Jalen Tolbert (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert now has a rather successful “playing through injury” story to tell for the remainder of his life, and it’s certainly a unique one at that.
With 20 seconds remaining in the Cowboys’ “Sunday Night Football” road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jalen Tolbert caught a game-winning four-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott.
As it turns out, Tolbert was playing through an incredibly painful-sounding injury when he caught Prescott’s game-winning pass. Per Mike Leslie of WFAA, Dallas offensive lineman Tyler Smith stated that Tolbert “sprained his f**king nuts” the play before the touchdown.
Sports medicine doctor Jesse Morse analyzed Jalen Tolbert’s potential injury, and let’s just say that it’ll make you cringe. Though the initial belief is that he may have suffered “testicular torsion,” Morse believes Tolbert instead suffered a strained abductor/groin.
Regardless, just reading Morse’s analysis is enough to make you cringe. Here’s hoping Tolbert isn’t dealing with any serious pain, and that he’ll be back on the field for Week 6 vs. the Detroit Lions.
Incredibly, all five Steelers-Cowboys matchups in the 21st century have been decided by a single score. Like his first visit to Pittsburgh in 2016, Prescott led Big D to victory with a clutch game-winning drive in the final minute to stun Steel City.
Jalen Tolbert Is Emerging As A Star In Dallas
With Brandin Cooks sidelined, the Cowboys desperately need more receivers to help complement superstar CeeDee Lamb. Jalen Tolbert has been up to the challenge thus far, with 20 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
Tolbert has already matched last season’s TD total. He needs three more catches and 22 receiving yards to set new career highs, which will likely come as soon as Sunday against the Lions anyway.
If Tolbert continues to produce as a capable No. 2 WR to help Prescott and Lamb, the Cowboys just might regain their status as a top NFC heavyweight.