He was becoming a fan favorite, but it hasn't translated to preseason.
Final roster cuts are approaching for the Dallas Cowboys, so players on the roster bubble have little margin for error from here on out.
Mike McCarthy has decided to sit most of his starters in preseason, so there's been ample opportunity for young players and veteran journeymen to prove themselves. The wide receiver position in particular has been fun to track since training camp started.
Tyron Billy-Johnson had his moment in the spotlight, but he has crashed back down to earth in preseason. Jalen Tolbert has emerged as the clear WR3 behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, while Jalen Brooks is the favorite to win the WR4 job. After a rough preseason debut and after missing the first week of padded practices with a knee injury, Ryan Flournoy was awesome against the Raiders.
Suffice it to say there has been a lot of see-sawing. McCarthy has some tough decisions ahead of him, but one should be absolutely clear after Saturday and that is that Jalen Cropper should be cut.
Cowboys need to cut WR Jalen Cropper after awful preseason game
Cropper has been one of the pleasant surprises of training camp and a sleeper pick to make the 53-man roster. For whatever reason, though, it hasn't translated to preseason.
On Saturday, Cropper fumbled on a punt return that put Las Vegas on the doorstep. He probably shouldn't have fielded the punt. It was a booming kick and he had to retreat some 15 yards just to catch it deep in the red zone. It's possible the ball would have bounced into the end zone for a touchback. The fact Cropper fumbled on top of it made it a nightmarish mistake.
Speaking of the fumble, Cropper dropped the ball before even getting hit. He has taken heat for the way he holds the ball. He carries it away from his body, making it easy for defenders to jar it loose.
Being able to contribute on special teams would have given Cropper a leg up in the receiver competition. He's flashed as a receiver, but he had a bad drop on Saturday. Trey Lance left the pass a little behind Cropper, but it hit him in the hands. That was his only target in the game.
With so many receivers living up to or exceeding expectations, including Kelvin Harmon, who only signed with the team on July 27, this performance could prove fatal to Cropper's roster chances.
The Cowboys (likely) won't cut the 23-year-old before Saturday's preseason finale, but you have to wonder if they've already made up their mind. The moment might just be too big for him.
