Cowboys counting on former South Alabama star on Sunday night

Jalen Tolbert ranks second among the Dallas Cowboys' wide receivers in receptions and receiving yards four games into the 2024 NFL season. But on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the former McGill-Toolen and South Alabama star likely will be called upon to assume a larger role.

Six-time 1,000-yard receiver Brandin Cooks, the acknowledged No. 2 WR for the Cowboys behind All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, has a knee issue that has landed him on injured reserve, which will require him to miss Dallas' next four games.

"I didn't even know that he was going to be out," Tolbert said on Wednesday. "He called - well, I called him yesterday, and he told me and he just told me to be me, get ready for the game. He knows the type of player that I'm capable of being. He knows what I'm made of. And so he's looking forward to seeing me go out there and have an opportunity."

Tolbert said Cooks told him to "be myself. Go out there, play a play at a time. You know, if you have a bad play before, don't harp on it. Go to the next one and be where your feet are. You know, not having him out there is going to hurt, but it's also motivation for all the guys in the room. We're playing for him. We're going to go out there and do what we have to for him. And we look forward to getting him back."

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said he had confidence the team's other wide receivers would step up in Cooks' absence.

"I love the guys we have here," McCarthy said . "The two Jalens (Tolbert and Brooks), this is more opportunities for them, (KaVontae) Turpin. Yeah, love our practice-squad guys. We'll be in good shape."

Tolbert has 13 receptions for 160 yards and one touchdown in four games this season. A third-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Tolbert had only two receptions for 12 yards as a rookie. Last season, those numbers rose to 22 receptions for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

More stories on the NFL

Patrick Surtain II to 'come out swaggy' even without Davante Adams

Former Alabama wide receiver in line to make his NFL debut on Sunday

NFL fines Detroit Lions' Jameson Williams for touchdown dunk

Tolbert already has an offseason of work as the No. 2 wide receiver because Lamb held out almost until the start of the season in contract dispute.

"If you look at it as far as, like camp, it was me and Brandin, and CeeDee wasn't here," Tolbert said , "so I was doing a lot of the Wide Receiver 2 role stuff at camp anyway. And so this week is nothing different. It's just we got CeeDee and me instead of Cooks and me, so it's not, like I say, a moment is too big. It's just about playing our style of football, being myself and going out there and not trying to force it and do too much, but just play, play my style of football and do what I can for this offense and with the opportunity that I'm given."

The Cowboys and Steelers square off at 7:20 p.m. CDT Sunday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. NBC will televise the game.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM'NFL PAGE