Star Evaluation: Where Lenoir Fits in WR Room

With the start of free agency last week, the Cowboys have had their share of players already come and go. However, the majority of the 2019 roster is already in place. In the coming weeks, the staff of DallasCowboys.com will preview those players, analyzing where they’ve been and where they’re going. Today, we’ll continue the series with wide receiver Lance Lenoir. What’s Been Good: Lenoir has worked himself into a position to be on the roster each of the last two years. He has been a solid training camp and preseason performer, which landed him spots on the practice squad. Eventually, he was called up to the 53-man roster, where he had two different stints, including one in the playoffs. He’s a versatile receiver who can play different spots and has experience on special teams. What’s Been Bad: The opportunities have sometimes been limited, but Lenoir still doesn’t have a single catch in his career. Again, he has been more of a special teams player when he’s been on the active roster. For a player who has spent two full years on the team, Lenoir hasn’t been able to make that next jump as a receiver just yet. 2018 Highlight: In his season debut against the Eagles in 2018, Lenoir had two big tackles on special teams. It was just the second game of the NFL career – both on the road at Philly – and Lenoir had made a significant special teams play in both contests. What’s Next: The signing of Randall Cobb and Tavon Austin don’t exactly help Lenoir’s chances of making the roster in 2019. Then again, the deck has been stacked against him before and he’s somehow found a way to stick around, whether it’s the practice squad or the roster. This year, Lenoir will get the chance to prove himself in camp, and the more versatile he is with his knowledge of the playbook, the better. Lenoir is one of the few receivers on the roster who can play all the positions and has special teams experience.Bryan’s Bottom Line: I am having a sense of déjà vu in typing these words about Lance Lenoir from last season at this time. Maybe I am being too hard on Lenoir but time is running out for him. The front office and coaching staff went for the committee approach last season which should have opened up an opportunity for him to step up and take a spot but after a non-spectacular training camp he found himself once again on the practice squad. It took Lenoir nine weeks before he was elevated to the active roster where he saw duty primarily on special teams and spot offensive snaps. I am still waiting for Lenoir to take that next step to go from nice practice player to nice game player. Lenoir needs to find a way to take that brilliance from the practice field to the game field before the current receivers on this roster takes that opportunity away from him.Click HERE for more Star Evaluations