Manuel

Johnson

Usual PR Patrick Crayton is sitting out and the team needs reinforcements. Johnson reportedly “really came on” with the practice squad last year, so the coaches are giving him a long look. He remains a long shot for the final 53.

Basically the Sooners’ third receiver behind SE Juaquin Iglesias and TE Jermaine Gresham last season, Johnson finished up with nine touchdowns and a 17.0 YPC average on 42 grabs. Johnson is lanky at 6'0/183 and lacks great speed, though, and has some of the draft’s smaller hands at 8 3/4'.

Johnson received plenty of reps during OTAs with a handful of receivers sidelined, but he was outplayed by rookie free agent Kevin Ogletree. While the Cowboys are thin at wideout, Johnson figures to be practice squad material.

Ogletree caught a touchdown from Jon Kitna last Friday and leads the team with 107 yards on four kickoff returns this preseason. It looks like he has emerged from oft-injured Isaiah Stanback and fellow rookie Manuel Johnson.

Holley, winner of Michael Irvin’s reality show 4th and Long, and Johnson will enter the offseason as the Cowboys’ sixth and seventh receivers. Dixon has bulked up and will be in the mix for a roster spot this summer.

Johnson will provide some depth at the receiver position with both Dez Bryant and Kevin Ogletree out for the season but will be used mostly on special teams on days where he’s active.

A 2009 seventh-round pick out of Oklahoma, Johnson has yet to appear on the active roster. He would be relegated to special teams work if promoted.

Special teamer Jesse Holley is also banged up, missing the last two practices with a knee injury. Sam Hurd will likely get the call opposite Miles Austin. Jon Kitna rarely looks beyond 10-15 yards, so he should be fine continuing to throw dumpoffs to Jason Witten, Felix Jones, and Austin.

Holley lost out to Sam Hurd, who gambled and won when he refused to take a paycut. Williams was a world-class sprinter tried out at both receiver at corner.