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DENVER – If you waited for the opening preseason game to allay your concerns about the Cowboys receiving corps, you misunderstood.

What you got was a mediocre performance, one that should force Jerry Jones to reconsider his statement that he has “no sense of urgency” when it comes to tackling the position.

The first half of Saturday night’s 17-7 loss to Denver, when both teams had important reserves and at least a few starters on the field, is the most telling assessment of where this group stands.

First impression: they are not ready yet.

And that is being merciful.

CeeDee Lamb didn’t play. Neither did Noah Brown, who has had the best camp of his career and got his job in Thursday’s scrimmage against Denver.

That meant that no receiver who took the field for the Cowboys on Saturday night has been awarded a regular season pass in the NFL.

It turned out to.

Jalen Tolbert was the receiver the Cowboys wanted to settle. In this game, coach Mike McCarthy said the third round pick was “to have an excellent camp for a young man. The way he has absorbed the plan is very impressive.”

His debut was not impressive. Quarterback Cooper Rush threw six times for Tolbert in the first half, resulting in two receptions for 10 yards.

Tolbert did draw a pass interference penalty. But he also dropped a ball on fourth deficit and was called up for a false start penalty on another drive.

Simi Fehoko, a fifth round pick in last year’s draft who didn’t contribute as a rookie, has been making a strong appearance in the camp in recent days. He caught a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter from Ben DiNucci.

Rookie free agent Dennis Houston had a 60-foot reception at a traffic intersection to put down a third to illustrate why Cowboys coaches and players are so impressed with him.

That was it. That was the highlight for this inexperienced receiving corps in the first half.

No wonder former Pro Bowl recipient Antonio Brown looked into the TMZ cameras a few days ago and told Jerry Jones to “give up” [him] a phone call.”

Signing Brown and the emotional baggage that comes with him is not the answer. But you have to wonder what this current group has to offer as it waits for Michael Gallup to return to the field early in the season.

“We’re talking about growth,” McCarthy said early in camp after veteran James Washington’s injury exacerbated the situation. “We’re talking about draft and development.

“Here it is. This is what it’s all about.”

There is never an advantage to losing a veteran asset like the Washington Cowboys did. But since he went down in the first padded practice, it bought the coaching staff some extra time to distribute those snaps among the younger players to see if anyone is ready to take the opportunity.

Tolbert and Houston have looked good throughout the camp. Fehoko made a late push.

“He plays with speed, very physical,” McCarthy said before the team fought the Broncos earlier this week. “He’s done a really good job time and again in the disputed catch areas, so I’d say Simi is busy making that sophomore jump.”

And Houston? Rush calls him a detailed trail runner who makes tough, contentious catches across the middle.

“He has a lot of potential,” Rush said before the match. “He’s working his ass off. We really like him in the quarterback room, just his work ethic, his mentality.

“For a rookie, he knows pretty much everything. He’s pretty much mastered it. He will only get better.”

All three young players took advantage of their opportunities in practice. But that’s just the first part. There are receivers that grab the attention of coaches in training camps across the league who can’t work that feat into games.

Tolbert, Houston and Fehoko have to play in these preseason games. If not, the front office will look for a recipient who is willing.

For now, they can only count on Lamb and — let this sink in — Brown, who has 39 receptions for 425 yards in his first five seasons with the Cowboys.

“Noah’s a man, if you give him a chance, and he’s been doing it for six years, you’re giving him the chance that he’s going to take advantage of it,” quarterback Dak Prescott said after he had Brown in Thursday’s scrimmage. to show.

“He had a great camp. He shows up, plays whatever position we need, then comes to us with that first group and does exactly what he did. Just consistent.

“He’s been great for the young receivers to follow, learn and see how to practice. That’s what he means to this team.

“He keeps showing.”

Someone else on this list needs to join him.

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