Jonathan Mingo has the Dallas Cowboys in a tough spot right now. After being placed on IR following a preseason injury, the former Mississippi standout has yet to make his season debut for the Cowboys.  Mingo’s practice window was opened October 1, meaning Dallas had 21 days to add him to the active roster or else they have to return him to IR for the rest of the year or cut ties completely.

Since being acquired in a 2024 midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers, Mingo has yet to make an impact for the Cowboys. In eight games played, Mingo has just produced five receptions for 46 yards. 2025, his third NFL season, was expected to be make-or-break for Mingo and early in training camp “make” was looking like a realistic possibility. But as they say, “the best ability is availability” and Mingo’s place on the depth chart has taken a significant hit due to his injury.

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Cowboys’ receivers looking for opportunity are in an ideal situation here early in 2025. CeeDee Lamb and Kavontae Turpin, two of Dallas top three WRs, have been missing time, allowing down-roster players a chance to prove their belonging. In Week 5 it was second-year player Ryan Flournoy who broke out at WR. The week before it was Jalen Tolbert who pulled through for a pivotal 34-yard reception against the Packers.

At one point over the offseason, it looked like Mingo could be competing for the WR2 spot in the Cowboys’ lineup. One George Pickens trade and a trip to the IR later and Mingo now appears to be no higher than No. 6 on the depth chart. That’s barely clinging to a roster spot.

On one hand there’s the sunk cost of the fourth-round pick used to acquire Mingo. On the other hand, different players have already stepped up at big moments and at some point, Mingo has to prove it on the field just like his competition has.

It’s possible the Cowboys could open a roster spot for Mingo via trade. A free agent in 2026, Tolbert seems like the most disposable and tradeable asset of the group in Dallas. Despite his disappointing start to 2025, Tolbert still has value after his breakout season a year before. He gives the Cowboys useful depth right now but if Lamb and Turpin return in Week 7 as expected, Dallas could probably afford to trade him and essentially replace Tolbert on the depth chart with Mingo.

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If Tolbert could bring back a midlevel linebacker or Day 3 pick in return, it might be worth it to consider a trade. Unlike Tolbert, Mingo is under team control for another season so a more patient approach might be worth it. The Cowboys can still get him on the active roster even with the logjam of WRs in front of him, but it will require more contributions on special teams. He was a parttime special teams player in Carolina, so it stands to reason he has the ability in Dallas.

At the end of the day, the return of Mingo puts the Cowboys in a precarious position this month. Placing Mingo back on IR and missing out on the 2025 season entirely seems like a terrible idea but so does cutting him outright, and so does stealing snaps from a more deserving player. He’s a player who has to get on the field to improve and right now that pathway looks blocked.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys in precarious spot with WR Jonathan Mingo, could trade happen?