TEs figure prominently for Cowboys, regardless of receivers

ARLINGTON, TEXAS >> An extended break for the Dallas Cowboys will be dominated by talk of whether the defending NFC East champs will get top receiver CeeDee Lamb some help by signing Odell Beckham Jr.

Dak Prescott has left little question his deep group of tight ends will play a big role in a playoff push regardless of whether the high-profile free agent picks Dallas.

Dalton Schultz had two receiving touchdowns in a 28-20 Thanksgiving victory over the New York Giants.

Then rookie Peyton Hendershot ran 2 yards for a score and was the choreographer in a made-for-TV “Whac-A-Mole” celebration that underscored the bond of all four tight ends.

Another rookie, Jake Ferguson, provided a highlight a few plays earlier when he hurdled New York safety Jason Pinnock and ran over cornerback Rodarius Williams on the same play.

Dallas is the first team since Green Bay in 1983 to have a tight end with two receiving TDs and another with a rushing score in the same game.

“I realized it in training camp,” Prescott said of a group that includes undrafted third-year player Sean McKeon.

“Obviously, having the relationship with Schultz ... my trust in him,” Prescott said. “Getting into training camp and seeing those young guys take on the responsibility, the roles, and do it with such confidence. I was eager to give them more, and for them to make more plays.”

The Cowboys (8-3) still trail divisionleading Philadelphia as they take a minibreak before hosting Indianapolis on Dec. 4.

Dallas’ usual Thanksgiving-related stretch of three games in 12 days started with a fourth-quarter collapse in Green Bay before the biggest road rout in franchise history, a 40-3 win at Minnesota.

After his 10th consecutive victory over the Giants, Prescott is 4-1 since returning from a five-game absence with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Cooper Rush had the same record filling in.

“I feel real good where we are,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “There’s a lot of football to be played. The nice part about where we are is you know we control our own destiny.”

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he talked to Beckham on Thanksgiving

Day. Jones previously confirmed reports that Beckham planned to meet with the Giants, his first NFL team, and the Cowboys after their Thanksgiving meeting.

The question is whether Beckham has been cleared for a return after tearing an ACL while winning the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in February.

“We’ll have to see,” Jones said. “I haven’t gotten the benefit of his rehab work and where he is. But that’s where it is.”

WHAT’S WORKING

The Cowboys were 29th in the NFL in third-down conversions at 32% through seven games. In three of the four games since, they’ve been at 63% or better.

The go-ahead touchdown against the Giants was Prescott’s 15-yard pass to Schultz on third-and-goal.