How WR Allen Hurns is coping with reduced snaps since the arrival of Amari Cooper

The addition of Amari Cooper has at once opened up the Dallas Cowboys offense while closing the rotation at wide receiver.

Remember, the early season talk of it being a receiver-by-committee and benefits of rotating four, five and six-receivers because they could all do so many things?

Well, that has come to a severe halt since Cooper arrived in a bye-week trade from the Oakland Raiders. The Cowboys have settled into a three-man rotation on passing downs with Cooper, rookie Michael Gallup and Cole Beasley getting the bulk of the chances, giving quarterback Dak Prescott a consistent group he can gain chemistry and trust with.

And the person it has affected most Allen Hurns, the team’s top free-agent signee who joined the team in March to help replace Dez Bryant on a two-year, $12 million deal that included $5.625 million in 2018.

After notching 57 and 54 snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins in the two games before Cooper’s arrival, Hurns had 18 and 15 snaps the past two games against the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.

Hurns has refused to let it get him down. He said he is doing what he can to contribute.

“Just wait for the opportunity and control what I can,” Hurns said. “That’s the main thing.”

Hurns, who has a disappointing 16 catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns in nine games, has certainly made the most of his opportunities the past two weeks.

He had a 23-yard touchdown reception on a nice double move on his only target against the Titans. And he had two catches for 40 yards, including a 17-yarder to 1 to set up a touchdown right before the half and a 23-yarder on third and 8 to help spark the game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Hurns believes the passing game was already showing signs of progress in the 20-17 loss to the Redskins before the bye. Quarterback Dak Prescott passed for a season-high 273 yards and Hurns had a season-high five catches for 74 yards.

But he doesn’t deny that the addition of Cooper has made them more efficient while opening up things for the other receivers, especially on third down.

“He has helped out a lot,” Hurns said. “The passing game has excelled. We can build on it. It shows we are on the same page. The last couple of weeks we didn’t have any communication errors. And with (running back Ezekiel) Zeke (Elliott) running the ball well we are able to do what whatever we want.”

This story was originally published November 15, 2018 at 9:36 AM.