Michael Gallup injury update, timeline for return

With Amari Cooper having been traded to the Cleveland Browns this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys will be relying heavily on Michael Gallup to buttress an offense that should continue to be one of the league’s best with Dak Prescott under center.

Defenses will surely key in on budding superstar CeeDee Lamb and 2021 breakout tight end Dalton Schultz, opening up opportunities for Gallup downfield. That said, after suffering a season-ending knee injury, when will Gallup be ready to take the field?

Michael Gallup injury update

Gallup suffered a torn ACL while coming down with a touchdown reception during a Week 17 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals last season. Despite the injury, Dallas signed Gallup to a five-year, $62.5 million extension just before he was set to hit the open market as a free agent in March. The team’s commitment to Gallup signals confidence that he’ll make a full recovery and remain a key piece of the Cowboys’ aerial attack.

In late July, Gallup told reporters that being ready for Week 1 is “not a reasonable possibility.” But since then, there have been encouraging signs that he could be ready to hit the starting lineup early in the regular season.

This week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that he doesn’t expect Gallup to start the season on the PUP list, meaning the team is hoping to get Gallup back without him missing the mandatory four-game stint required of players who are placed on the PUP list as opposed to the initial 53-man roster.

“The strategic way that we handle this at cutdown will let him get to the club actively as quick as he can,” Jones explained. “We don’t want to do anything that would limit us from getting him (back before Week 5).”

The Cowboys open the season on September 11th against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Should Gallup fail to avoid the PUP list, he’d also miss games against the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, and Washington Commanders before being eligible to return against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5.

Gallup’s fantasy outlook

If Gallup’s injury situation is important to you for fantasy purposes, PFN’s fantasy team released a full outlook on the Cowboys’ WR. Here is the general consensus on Gallup and his potential this season.

“…Gallup is well worth the risk at his current ADP. Best-case scenario, you can place him in your IR slot for a few weeks and then activate him when he is healthy. He could then push to be a starter, either at WR or Flex, on a weekly basis. That upside is huge, given Gallup is essentially a free investment in the final rounds of drafts.”

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