The Dallas Cowboys are not going to wait for new receiver Amari Cooper to get a full grasp of the offense before using him heavily.
On Friday, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan told reporters that Cooper would play a significant amount on Monday night when the Cowboys host the Tennessee Titans: “We’re not really easing him in,” Linehan said, per David Helman of the team’s official website.
It’s understandable that Dallas, which gave up a first-round pick for him, would be eager to throw Cooper into the mix as much and as soon as possible. So far this season, the passing game has been anemic, and wide receivers have struggled to make an impact.
Through seven games, the team’s leading receiver is slot specialist Cole Beasley. He has 33 catches for 350 yards and two touchdowns. The next-best wide receiver has been rookie Michael Gallup, who has caught just 10 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown.
Whether Cooper can come in and inject new life into this offense remains to be seen. He had a couple of strong seasons to start his career in Oakland but has fallen off the map the past two seasons. Since Week 1 of the 2017 campaign, Cooper has caught just 70 passes for 960 yards and eight touchdowns.