After their disappointing playoff exit in 2021, the Dallas Cowboys head into the 2022 NFL season full of high expectations. Before final 53-man roster cuts, Jerry Jones spoke out about the condition of injured wide receiver Michael Gallup. Gallup suffered an ACL tear in the final game in 2021. Via Michael Gehlken. Jones also revealed that the Cowboys don’t plan to place Gallup on the PUP list. This is significant because it allows Gallup to play at any time during the season’s first four weeks.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated WR Michael Gallup (ACL) won’t start the season on PUP.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 24, 2022
Gallup will be able to stay off the PUP list by the Cowboys, which means they will need to give up one of 53 roster spots. But that’s a risk they are willing to take. In the offseason , the young wide receiver said that he didn’t expect to be available for Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the team doesn’t rule out the possibility that he could return at some point during the first four weeks.
PUP players must miss the first four regular season games. They cannot practice with the team during this time, which will significantly limit Gallup’s ability come back as sharply as possible.
Gallup is expected to be available early in the season by the Cowboys, hence the decision not to take a roster spot to keep him from PUP. Gallup will play a larger role in the Cowboys offense in 2022 after Amari Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns. He will take over CeeDee Lamb’s WR2 position.