Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys WR Devin Street benefiting from Dez Bryant's absence

Published Jun. 22, 2015 3:42 p.m. ET

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During his rookie season, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Devin Street had limited opportunities to work with quarterback Tony Romo. The rookie receiver didn't see many first team reps overall, and Romo was absent from many practices before the regular season. During spring practices this offseason, Street's fortunes have turned. With Dez Bryant holding out and absent from practice, Street has taken the majority of first team offense repetitions in Bryant's spot. Fully healthy for the first offseason since 2012, Romo has been the quarterback delivering him passes.

“We didn’t really get any reps together [last year], so it’s definitely been beneficial going forward and in the OTAs,” Street said of his work with Romo, per the Dallas Morning News. “I’m learning what he likes, what he sees. Me being accountable to him, him having that confidence in me to go out and make plays for him and this offense and this team.”

The Cowboys traded multiple draft picks to move up and select Street in the 2014 NFL Draft. He only played 150 snaps as a rookie and compiled two receptions for 18 yards, but he has potential to evolve into the team's second best option in the red zone. He stands 6-foot-4 with a 37-inch vertical jump.

With the added opportunities, Street was able to take advantage and make an excellent impression on head coach Jason Garrett.

“Devin did a really good job,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said per the Dallas Morning News. “He played a lot of different spots for us, didn’t have a lot of production for us. But he was up virtually every week and was able to handle all of the different spots, both outside positions and inside positions, and go into games and handle his work well.

“Again, not a lot of opportunities but he was doing the right things. I do think he has grown physically over the last year. He’s stronger, he’s quicker, he’s faster. Those are all measurable things we have seen in our strength and conditioning program. And that stuff is starting to show up on the field.”

According to Pro Football Focus' receiving grades, which factor in a player's ability to get open on each passing route, Williams has finished ranked 89th and 73rd among 111 and 110 qualifying receivers, respectively, over the last two seasons. Street may only be filling in for Bryant for now, but it wouldn't surprise me if he eats into Williams' regular season snaps. If and when Bryant returns to the practice field during training camp, it will be interesting to see if Street lines up with the second team offense at Bryan'ts position, or if he splits snaps with Williams at his spot.

(h/t Dallas Morning News )

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports