Ryan Flournoy’s Rise, Scare, and Resilience: A Bright Spot in a Rough Cowboys Season
In a season where the Dallas Cowboys have seen more downs than ups, second-year wide receiver Ryan Flournoy has quietly become one of the most encouraging storylines on the roster. From a fringe player fighting for a spot in training camp to now the clear No. 3 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, Flournoy’s emergence has been both steady and impressive.
Through 15 games, Flournoy has racked up 35 receptions for 407 yards and four touchdowns - the latest of which came in the first quarter against the Chargers on Sunday. But what started as another promising afternoon for the young wideout quickly turned into a moment of serious concern.
Late in the second quarter, after a 13-yard reception, Flournoy went to the ground expecting a standard touch from a defender. Instead, Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman came in low and hard, driving Flournoy awkwardly into the turf. His knee bent back in a way no athlete wants to see - especially one with a history of knee injuries.
“I was a little fearful,” Flournoy admitted afterward. “The way I got twisted up, I felt a little click and pop, and I couldn’t return to the game. That hurt me.”
For a player who’s already battled back from a torn ACL in college, the moment was more than just physical - it was emotional. The Cowboys’ medical staff quickly took him inside for evaluation, and the initial concern was serious. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn’t sugarcoat it.
“We were really worried about it,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s had that knee repaired before, so when something like that happens, everyone holds their breath.”
But the mood shifted dramatically less than 24 hours later. After further testing on Monday, the results came back - no structural damage.
Just a sprain. A sigh of relief echoed through the Cowboys' facility in Frisco.
“I got great news, and I’ve been happy all day, for real,” Flournoy said. “After the MRI, it was just a sprain. God blesses me in tremendous ways.”
Schottenheimer was in a game-planning meeting when head athletic trainer Jim Maurer delivered the update. The reaction? Pure joy.
“I picked up the phone and called Flo and told him I loved him and how excited I was,” Schottenheimer said. “A bunch of the guys in the room started going crazy and pounding the table.”
Flournoy was listed as a limited participant in Monday’s walkthrough, and while he’ll need to clear a few more hurdles to suit up Thursday against Washington, he’s doing everything he can to be ready. Even with the Cowboys officially out of playoff contention, Flournoy’s motivation hasn’t wavered.
“We’re playing for pride and playing for this locker room, this brotherhood we got,” he said. “Some people aren’t going to be here next year.
I want to go out and play with my brothers on this 2025 Cowboys team two more times. Just have fun with them and fight with them.
This brotherhood is special to me.”
The NFL also weighed in on the play that nearly derailed Flournoy’s season. On Monday morning, the league announced a two-game suspension for Perryman, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness during the game. The punishment will keep him out for the remainder of the Chargers’ regular season, though reports indicate he plans to appeal.
Flournoy, for his part, isn’t holding a grudge.
“He did come and apologize after the game,” he said. “That just shows his character and sportsmanship.
In the moment, I was heated - like, why didn’t he just touch me? But he apologized, and I forgive him for it.”
With two games left, Flournoy sits fourth on the team in receiving yards behind Pickens, Lamb, and tight end Jake Ferguson. His four touchdowns rank third. For a player who had to fight tooth and nail just to make the roster, his production - and his poise - speak volumes.
“I feel like I’ve established myself very well,” Flournoy said. “The job’s not done, though.
I still want to keep climbing and keep going, be consistent every time. Just be me and show up every time.”
And the Cowboys are taking notice. Schottenheimer praised not just the stats, but the way Flournoy is playing the game - with confidence, control, and grit.
“He had a touchdown yesterday. He had another one called back.
He made an incredible catch - maybe one of the best ones I’ve seen in a while,” Schottenheimer said. “The way he’s playing and the confidence he’s playing with, he deserves all of the great things coming his way.”
For a team looking for silver linings in a tough season, Ryan Flournoy is more than just a feel-good story - he’s a building block.