Tolbert caught two of three targets for 12 yards over eight regular-season games in 2022.
Drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of South Alabama, Tolbert was viewed as a raw, athletic prospect who might need some time to adjust to the level of play in the NFL, but the Cowboys clearly didn't anticipate just how big that adjustment was going to be. The 23-year-old was inactive for the first two games of the season despite the team's lack of healthy, reliable wideouts behind CeeDee Lamb, and even after Tolbert did begin to draw into the gameday lineup, he failed to make any kind of impact, and he returned to inactive status for the final five games of the regular season plus both of Dallas' playoff games. With a full offseason in the program ahead to hone his skills and with a better idea of what he needs to do to succeed in the NFL, Tolbert could make a big leap in his second season, but there's little reason to put him on the fantasy radar as anything more than a dart throw in dynasty formats until he proves himself on the field.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Inactive for wild-card matchup
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Tolbert (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's wild-card matchup against the Buccaneers, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Tolbert was a healthy scratch for the final five games of the regular season and will be inactive once again to start the postseason. Dallas' wideout corps Monday night will consist of CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Noah Brown, T.Y. Hilton and KaVontae Turpin.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Won't suit up Week 18
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Tolbert (coach's decision) has been ruled inactive prior to Sunday's game against the Commanders, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Tolbert will finish the 2022 regular as a healthy scratch for the fifth week in a row. With veteran wideout T.Y. Hilton taking on a bigger role in Dallas' receiving corps, it's likely Tolbert could remain a nonfactor heading into the 2022 playoffs.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Sitting Week 17
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Tolbert (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Titans, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Tolbert is set for his third consecutive absence, each of which has come as a healthy scratch. Most recently, that's been due to the addition of T.Y. Hilton, who caught a 52-yard pass in his debut with the Cowboys in Week 16.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: On inactive list
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Tolbert (coach's decision) is officially inactive for Sunday's game against the Texans, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
The rookie third-round pick suited up for the past seven games but won't play Sunday, as James Washington (foot) is making his 2022 debut after being activated off injured reserve. Tolbert has only two receptions for 12 yards in eight contests this season.
Tolbert could serve as the Cowboys' No. 3 receiver in Sunday's game against the Bears with Noah Brown (foot) inactive for the contest, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Heading into training camp, Tolbert looked like a leading candidate to open the season as the Cowboys' No. 2 wideout behind CeeDee Lamb, but a poor preseason resulted in him being a healthy scratch Week 1. Tolbert's outlook hasn't changed much for the better since that time, as he was inactive in four of the Cowboys' first seven games and fell further down the pecking order at receiver when Michael Gallup returned from a torn ACL in Week 4. Lamb and Gallup are both suiting up Sunday, but the absence of Brown creates an opportunity for Tolbert to see meaningful playing time on offense for the first time since Week 3, when he logged 23 snaps. With Brown out and James Washington (foot) on injured reserve, the Cowboys aren't left with much depth at the position beyond Tolbert, as the lone other active wideout Sunday is 5-foot-9, 153-pound return man KaVontae Turpin, who profiles as more of a gadget player on offense than a true receiver.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Sitting again Sunday
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Tolbert (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game versus the Commanders, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
For the third time in four games to begin his career, Tolbert will be a healthy scratch for the Cowboys. It's not a surprise with Michael Gallup back in the lineup for the first time since tearing his ACL back on Jan. 2, and Tolbert now be in danger of being a regular inactive for the team without an injury elsewhere in Dallas' receiving corps.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Catches one pass in win
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Tolbert caught one of two targets for four yards in Monday's 23-16 win over the Giants.
Tolbert played on 36 percent of the Cowboys' offensive snaps in his pro debut, but he was only able to reel in one of his two targets in the contest. The rookie was an afterthought in the offense, as teammates CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown soaked up the majority of the wide receiver targets from quarterback Cooper Rush. Tolbert will have to wait to prove himself on the field, but the imminent return of Michael Gallup (knee) and Dalton Schultz (knee) will likely make it difficult for the 23-year-old wideout to see any significant playing time. Tolbert will likely remain far off the fantasy radar when the Cowboys host the Commanders in Week 4.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: In line for pro debut
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Tolbert is listed as active for Monday's game against the Giants, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The rookie third-round pick thus is in line for his pro debut after being a healthy scratch for both of the Cowboys' first two games of the season. It's unclear what kind of workload he can expect, but the offense again will be without Michael Gallup (knee), and No. 1 tight end Dalton Schultz (knee) also isn't playing, so Tolbert could get in the mix behind CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Takes seat again in Week 2
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Tolbert (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's contest against the Bengals, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
For a second consecutive game to begin his career, the rookie third-round pick won't be available to a Cowboys offense that's without fellow pass catchers Michael Gallup (knee, inactive) and James Washington (foot, IR). The decision to delay Tolbert's pro debut is an interesting one, especially with Dak Prescott (thumb) sidelined for the foreseeable future. In any case, interim starting quarterback Cooper Rush will have CeeDee Lamb, Noah Brown, Dennis Houston, Simi Fehoko and KaVontae Turpin available at wide receiver Week 2.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Pair of grabs in win
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Tolbert brought in two of four targets for 25 yards in the Cowboys' 32-18 preseason win over the Chargers on Saturday night.
The rookie drew the start and turned in a solid effort overall while working with Cooper Rush as his quarterback. Tolbert's numbers were an improvement on the 2-7-0 line he furnished in the preseason opener against the Broncos last Saturday night, and he remains slated for a starting role to open the regular season with Michael Gallup (knee) and James Washington (foot) projected to be unavailable.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Showing growth in practice
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Tolbert was more consistent this week during joint practices with the Chargers after a rough performance in the Cowboys' preseason opener, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The rookie receiver caught only two of his seven targets and got flagged for a false start against the Broncos last Saturday, but Tolbert appears to have put it behind him. "I'm learning more and more about each [wide receiver] position as I go," he said after Thursday's practice. "And so, me just being able to move around and understand more - in the game Saturday, it was kind of flying around on me. Overall, I'm picking it up. I'm good. Now, I'm just working on being consistent. My main goal was to come out here, be consistent and compete hard, and I think I did a very good job of that." With Michael Gallup (knee) and James Washington (foot) both set to miss the beginning of the regular season, there will be a lot of pressure on Tolbert to handle a big role from the jump despite being a third-round pick from a smaller conference. If he continues to show progress and can maybe add better preseason numbers to his resume before Week 1, his status as a fantasy sleeper will be a lot more secure.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Two grabs in preseason opener
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Tolbert brought in two of seven targets for 10 yards in the Cowboys' 17-7 preseason loss to the Broncos on Saturday night.
Tolbert was the target on Cooper Rush's first two pass attempts, neither of which was caught. The rookie did draw a pass interference penalty on the first play of the Cowboys' third drive and subsequently got on the board with a pair of receptions, making it a busy yet modest night for the third-round pick. Tolbert's next opportunity to ramp up for what should be a solid role right from the start of his career comes in a road battle against the Chargers next Saturday night.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Could be Week 1 starter
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Tolbert participated in workouts with Dak Prescott and other key members of the Cowboys offense earlier this month, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Top tight end Dalton Schultz was part of the group, as were CeeDee Lamb and Ezekiel Elliott. Tolbert also saw reps with the first-team offense at the end of minicamp, and with Michael Gallup not expected to be healthy for the beginning of the season, the third-round rookie could find himself in the starting lineup in Week 1, lining up either opposite Lamb on the outside or working out of the slot. An impressive performance in training camp would help solidify Tolbert's spot and convince the Cowboys they don't need to bring in additional veteran depth at wide receiver.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Back at practice Tuesday
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Tolbert (hamstring) got significant reps during Tuesday's mandatory minicamp, David Helman of the Cowboys' official site reports.
The rookie wideout had been nursing a hamstring injury during OTAs, but he appears to have moved past the issue and looks poised to carve out a role in Dallas. With Michael Gallup (knee) potentially unavailable for Week 1, Tolbert will compete with fellow newcomer James Washington (foot) for snaps and targets behind No. 1 wideout CeeDee Lamb.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: Nursing hamstring issue
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Tolbert is dealing with a hamstring injury at OTAs, Nick Eatman & Layten Praytor of the Cowboys' official site report.
Tolbert joins Michael Gallup (torn ACL) and James Washington (foot) on the sideline during the early portion of OTAs. The rookie third-round pick should have ample opportunities for practice reps once back on the field, but Dallas may also hesitate to rush him back from a hamstring strain. For now, the likes of Noah Brown, Simi Fehoko and T.J. Vasher will benefit from added work behind No. 1 wideout CeeDee Lamb.
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Cowboys' Jalen Tolbert: New weapon for Prescott
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The Cowboys selected Tolbert in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 88th overall.
Tolbert (6-foot-1, 194 pounds) lacks overall size, but his athleticism is just above average (4.49-second 40-yard dash) and his production in college was compelling. Tolbert's senior year for South Alabama was particularly memorable, as he recorded 82 receptions for 1,474 yards and eight touchdowns on 136 targets. He heads to Dallas as its likely fourth wide receiver behind CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and free-agent signee James Washington, but Gallup's return from an ACL tear and Washington's less-than-convincing NFL production leave open the the slight possibility of an immediate impact from Tolbert.
