ARLINGTON (105.3 The Fan) - The Dallas Cowboys drafted Jalen Tolbert in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft to help alleviate the loss of Amari Cooper this offseason. But they won't be getting any production out of the rookie in the season opener on Sunday night because Tolbert isn't among the 46 players Dallas is suiting out for the contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The addition of Tolbert to the inactive list is puzzling given the draft capital the Cowboys invested in him over the spring.
Injuries and offseason departures have left the team a bit thin at receiver, and fellow rookie Dennis Houston - who went undrafted - is active this evening over Tolbert.
In addition to Houston, the Cowboys will deploy a receiver group consisting of CeeDee Lamb, Noah Brown, Simi Fehoko and KaVontae Turpin against Tampa.
Michael Gallup (knee) remains unavailable as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL injury he suffered at the end of last season. Dallas could get him back for their Week 2 game next Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, but the team will likely hold him out until Week 3. James Washington, the team's other offseason wide receiver addition, remains on injured reserve after breaking his foot in training camp.
The Cowboys will have safety Jayron Kearse, who appeared on the injury report Friday with a neck issue, active for vs. Tampa. Kearse appeared to be in some discomfort at practice on Thursday, and was listed as a non-participant on Friday.
For the Buccaneers, wide receiver Chris Godwin is active after he recently returned to practice after he tore his ACL and MCL in Week 15 last season.
The complete inactive list for each team can be seen below.
Cowboys:
Defensive tackle John Ridgeway, linebacker Jabril Cox, cornerback Nashon Wright, safeties Markquese Bell and Israel Mukuamu, and wide receivers Jalen Tolbert and Michael Gallup.
Bucs:
