Cowboys @ Rams: Can Jalen Guyton reinsert himself in WR battle?

In the Cowboys’ second preseason game of the 2019 season, Dallas is matched up with a familiar face: the Los Angeles Rams, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in the Divisional Round this past January.

While the stakes are nowhere near as high this time around, the contest allows some borderline players to make an impact as they try to impress the coaching staff enough in hopes of making the roster. One of those players that could really use a strong day on Saturday is undrafted wide receiver Jalen Guyton.

Guyton, a North Dallas native, tore up the North Texas Pro Day prior to the 2019 NFL Draft, clocking in with a 4.35 40 and 6.90 three-cone, jumped 37.5 inches, and recorded a 10.05 broad jump.

The Cowboys quickly inked the UNT product shortly after April’s draft concluded. However, he was not the only UDFA wide receiver that the staff had its eyes on. Dallas also signed Toledo’s Jon’Vea Johnson to compete for a roster spot. 2017 UDFA wideout Reggie Davis was also picked up in the offseason.

The battle for, likely, the sixth spot on the WR depth chart has been very fun and fluid. All three of the aforementioned receivers have had some impressive highs in Oxnard, but all three have also had their head-scratching lows as well. (Not too mention, there is also Cedrick Wilson lurking as well, despite suffering a nasty injury in preseason week one.) Thus, it is hard to get a read on who has the upper-hand in the competition.

Guyton has speed to help stretch the offense vertically, but he can struggle to consistently create enough separation for a throwing window in short and intermediate routes. Still, when given the opportunity to do so, he has appeared to make the most of it.

Guyton, who put up video game numbers in high school as a wideout, averaged over 15 yards per reception while finding the end zone 15 times during his two-year stint in Denton with the Mean Green, showing that he has the ability to make explosive plays in the passing game.

Reggie Davis has had some struggles sticking on other rosters and JVJ continues to have difficulties making the consistent plays, as his trend of dropping passes in training camp carried over to the first preseason game, which means that Guyton has an opportunity to step up and potentially grab a roster spot by the horns.

While training camp is a huge factor in the equation, game action is where fringe roster guys can make a big impression on the staff. Guyton has to separate himself in the preseason games — starting tonight — if he is to make a legit push to make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster in just a few short weeks.