Cowboys lose Mingo to IR

Dallas rookie receiver Jonathan Mingo is likely to begin the season on injured reserve after a knee sprain, reshaping the Cowboys WR depth chart.

Cowboys place Jonathan Mingo on IR after knee sprain

FRISCO, Texas Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo is expected to start the season on injured reserve after suffering a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during last week’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. A source told ESPN the recovery window could be four to six weeks, or longer. Mingo left the field on a 49 yard catch and did not return, signaling the seriousness of the injury. This comes as Dallas reassesses a crowded receiver room ahead of the August 26 roster deadline.

Last season the Cowboys traded for Mingo, pairing him with a fourth round pick in 2025 for a 2025 fourth rounder from the Panthers. In eight games last year he had five receptions for 46 yards, but he did not catch a pass from Dak Prescott, who missed the final nine games with a hamstring injury that required surgery. The club now faces a decision on how to allocate two injured reserve spots or live with a larger crop of options heading into Week 1. With Mingo sidelined, the competition for the remaining WR spots behind CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and KaVontae Turpin tightens considerably, setting up a battle among Jalen Tolbert, Ryan Flournoy, Jalen Brooks, Jalen Cropper and Traeshon Holden.

The injury exposes a larger challenge for Dallas beyond one player. The Cowboys entered camp with a surplus of receivers but a thin margin for error in a season that will lean on health and execution. The IR possibility provides roster flexibility, yet it also heightens the pressure on younger players to prove they can handle meaningful snaps early. In the short term, the Cowboys will lean on their established core and ask for more from players who have shown flashes but little consistency. The longer view depends on how quickly Mingo can recover and where he fits back into a rotation that will need more dependable options once he returns.

Highlights

A setback in August tests a young unit, but Dallas can still turn adversity into an opportunity for growth.