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Some of the bigger on-field storylines surrounding Dallas Cowboys right now include Dak Prescott and his pairing with Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore, how CeeDee Lamb fits in along the other offensive weapons, Everson Griffen and Aldon Smith’s roles on defense and the unknown in the secondary.
Another topic that has some attention is who will be the fourth wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. Yes, that may seem like a small question when considering Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Lamb are the top three guys at the position, but the Cowboys do need to have someone ready to be that fourth option. That player needs to have the ability to step up in case one of the Big Three has to miss any time due to injury.
The primary contenders for the WR4 role has consisted of Cedrick Wilson, Devin Smith and your choice of Noah Brown, Aaron Parker, Jon’Vea Johnson, etc. With the Cowboys getting deeper into training camp as the team prepares to open the season against the Los Angeles Rams on September 13, we are seeing one of those names rise to the challenge.
Amari Cooper. Michael Gallup. CeeDee Lamb. We all know the names of the Cowboys’ top three wide receivers. But over past week, Cedrick Wilson has essentially cemented his standing as No. 4. A time should come when he’s called upon in 2020. He looks ready to answer it.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 23, 2020
Wilson, a 24-year-old wideout that is entering his third season in the National Football League after being grabbed in the sixth-round of the 2018 draft, has yet to make a real impact on the football field this far in his young career, thanks in large part to the injury bug. The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers receiver Cedrick Wilson Sr. has a fresh start with a new regime and the opportunity to grab an important role in the offense.
The Boise State product is doing his best to leave a strong impression of McCarthy and the new staff during the early stages of training camp. Wilson, a quarterback on the high school level in Memphis, turned some heads on Sunday while connecting with Dak Prescott for a touchdown.
Dak Prescott looked good today in practice, made some strong throws including a TD pass to Cedrick Wilson over 2 defenders.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 23, 2020
Cedrick Wilson had a good day. He’s looking like the No. 4 WR at this stage.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 23, 2020
Wilson is impressing one of the team’s best players as well. Pro Bowler Amari Cooper said on Sunday that the third-year wideout “looks like he’s ready to take that next step.” Pretty high praise from somebody that is considered to be among the ten best receivers in all of football.
After practice, Cowboys WR Amari Cooper shared his impressions of Cedrick Wilson. "He looks fast. He looks good. He looks detailed in his route running, and he looks like he's ready to take that next step."
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 23, 2020
Devin Smith offers speed and downfield playmaking, while Noah Brown is a strong blocker is familiar with the ins and outs of the organization — albeit with a different coaching regime. Wilson, though, gives the Cowboys a smooth route runner that has flashed in limited opportunities.
Cedrick Wilson pulls down the 3rd down catch from Dak Prescott.
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) October 13, 2019
Really nice placement by Dak and a nice job to make the catch by Wilson. #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/CVTDQ9mUlv
The awesome news is that the Dallas Cowboys do not need Cedrick Wilson to develop into a star receiver. With the three-headed monster of Cooper, Gallup and Lamb, all Dallas needs is another wideout to step up and provide another threat on the depth chart.
Practices are even more of an emphasis for fringe roster players and the ones looking to cement their role on the team this year with no preseason games played. Thus far through training camp, it appears that Cedrick Wilson is taking full advantage of the opportunity that has been presented in front of him.