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Ryan Flournoy making offseason decision on Jalen Tolbert easy

Originally posted on Inside The Star | By Shane Taylor | Last updated Dec 9, 2025 1:51 PM ET

If last week’s loss told us anything other than the Dallas Cowboys defense is still not good, it is that Dallas has another wide receiver outside CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens that they should trust.

Ryan Flournoy had a breakout game against the Detroit Lions last Thursday, and with Jalen Tolbert on an expiring contract, the Cowboys won’t have to do much thinking this offseason.

Flournoy had a total of 13 targets, his most since week five against the New York Jets, and yes, 42 of his 115 yards came on one play, but Tolbert had three years to figure this out.

Goodbye Jalen Tolbert

Tolbert was once again a healthy stretch against the Lions, showing us that this coaching staff clearly has seen enough from Flournoy to continue to make this move each week.

He has 29 catches for 349 yards and three touchdowns. He has not been used nearly at all since the Jets game in week five, but we never saw this type of production from Jalen Tolbert when he was on the field.

Dak Prescott clearly has his trust if he was willing to give him 13 targets in the biggest game of the season.

#DallasCowboys EVP Stephen Jones praised WR Ryan Flournoy and how he's becoming a real threat in the receiving game this year. @kandc1053 pic.twitter.com/rRhg5CcPh0

— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) December 8, 2025

Pickens will not have that bad of a game again, but with how good this duo is, you clearly have a guy behind them both that can be trusted when either Lamb or GP gets taken away.

Tolbert is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and Flournoy is on a rookie contract through the 2027 season. This will be a no-brainier in the offseason for Jerry Jones.

I don’t know what the plan will be with George Pickens, but if they bring him back paired with Lamb and Flournoy, the offense will be an afterthought, and they should do nothing but focus on the defense for the entire summer.

I thought at one point Tolbert would be the diamond in the rough for this WR room, but that has not been the case.

With the Eagles’ loss last night to the Chargers, it keeps the NFC East title hopes alive. Dallas will need every bit of the offense and Flournoy to win out and keep all the pressure on Philly.

If the Cowboys win out and the Eagles drop two of their last four, Dallas wins the division. The Eagles have the Raiders, Commanders twice and the Bills left, so although not much hope, something is still there.

This article first appeared on Inside The Star and was syndicated with permission.

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