Cowboys’ Michael Gallup looking to take ‘1,000 leaps forward’ this season, hoping injuries are behind him
The Dallas Cowboys bolstered their wide receiver corps during the offseason by acquiring Brandin Cooks from the Texans. With Cooks and CeeDee Lamb at top the depth charts, Michael Gallup will look to provide an addition boost to the Cowboys offense.
Gallup enters this season with one thing on his mind, to take “1,000 leaps forward” from last year.
“I feel so good. I just smile all the time. I keep telling folks that I just smile when I walk in here because I know it’s go-time soon,” said Gallup.
The 27-year-old is now one full season removed from the torn ACL that cut short his 2021 and delayed the start of his 2022 campaign. Gallup saw injuries plague him during the 2022 campaign where he caught 39 receptions for 424 yards and four touchdowns.
Gallup feels that his injury history is officially behind him and he can form a dangerous trio with Lamb and Cooks.
"Mentally, it's up to 100 percent," Gallup said to the The Athletic back in May. "Last year, obviously the mentals weren't there. I knew my leg was good. I knew I was straight, but I still had to get over that little hump. … I've already [rebuilt his confidence in it]. That's why we had OTAs and all that good stuff. I definitely rebuilt it.
"I was thinking too much [last season]," Gallup said. "My knee was feeling sore and it was just different. I never really had it like that last year."
The veteran of six seasons has already been picking the brain of his fellow teammate in Cooks.
“When we’re out on the field, there’s always something that you can learn from Brandin [Cooks] like he’s been around so long, said Gallup. “It doesn’t even matter if something comes up. He’s gonna let you know. So we definitely appreciate him, and he’s actually really fast if you haven’t seen it.”
Gallup understands his role on the team and the opportunity his has to play in Dallas.
“That’s how it’s kind of always been all my years here playing for the Cowboys, just kind of been that third wide receiver,” Gallup said. “But if they get doubled that means I’ve got to be one-on-one, so that’s easy pickings for me.”
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