Jason Garrett’s Explanation For Why Amari Cooper Wasn’t On The Field During 4th Down Play Makes No Sense

The Dallas Cowboys season took a big hit on Sunday as the team blew a chance to win the NFC East, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles, 17-9.

The biggest mistake for the Cowboys came late in the 4th quarter when the team was facing a 4th down, the team decided to take star wide receiver Amari Cooper off the field.

The Cowboys failed to convert the 4th down and never got the ball again.

Following the game, Cooper was asked about why he was not on the field and essentially said the coaching staff benched him:

Amari Cooper says he was pulled by the coaches prior to that fourth down.

— David Helman (@HelmanDC) December 23, 2019

Garrett pointed to fatigue when pressed on what went into his controversial personnel decision.

Why weren’t Amari Cooper & Randall Cobb on the field for the Cowboys 4th down chance to tie the game? Jason Garrett said both players were on the fieledfor a lot of plays in 2-minute offense & neeed a rest. Cooper said it was part of normal rotation.

— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) December 23, 2019

However, according to Jane Slater of NFL Network, there seems to be an internal dispute regarding why Cooper wasn’t on the field:

A #Cowboys source disputes the notion WR Amari Cooper was benched. Instead they wanted to give Tavon Austin a shot at the DBs because Eagles having hard time w smaller quick guys. They got in hurry up mode so they had to wait to put Cooper back in. “Rotation change, not bench.”

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) December 23, 2019

The Dallas Cowboys are a mess.