Cowboys and Giants welcome reinforcements

E AST R UTHERFORD, N. J . Help may be on the way for the somewhat undermanned Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants heading into their NFC East showdown on Monday night.

Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup and Giants outside linebackers Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux seemingly are ready to make their 2022 debuts after missing the opening two games. All three were projected starters, but injuries have had them inactive on game days.

“Nobody wants to be on the sideline, but I think that’s the part of team sports; you’ve really got to be humble,” said Thibodeaux, the No. 5 pick in the draft. “I can’t win a game, and I can’t lose a game. All I can do is contribute to the outcome.”

Those days seemingly are over. All three players took team reps in practice this past week and are expected to play even though they have been listed as questionable.

Gallup has been rehabbing a torn ACL from late last season. Ojulari started camp on PUP with a nonfootball related hamstring injury and then hurt a calf before their preseason finale. Thibodeaux sprained his knee on Aug. 21 in a preseason game against Cincinnati.

Dallas will be without quarterback Dak Prescott.

Cooper Rush, who threw for 235 yards and a touchdown in his first start replacing Prescott, said it’s awesome to have Gallup back.

“You kinda forget how big he is,” Rush said. “He walks in the huddle and you’re like, Oh 13 is back in the huddle. Looks good out there.”