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State NFL roundup: Former South Alabama star saves Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert catches a touchdown pass during an NFL game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dak Prescott on fourth down with 20 seconds to play to lift the Dallas Cowboys to a 20-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

The touchdown capped a career day for the former McGill-Toolen Catholic High School and South Alabama standout.

Dallas played without starting wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who was placed on injured reserve last week. Tolbert responded with eight receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown against the Steelers.

Tolbert reached career highs by surpassing the six receptions for 82 yards that he totaled in the Cowboys’ 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 15.

Tolbert almost wasn’t in the game for the final play. On the previous snap, he had tried to make a sliding catch of a pass that Prescott skipped into the end zone. The football drilled Tolbert in the groin, and he left the field. But because Pittsburgh called a timeout, he was able to re-enter the contest without missing a snap.

Tolbert was among the 36 players from Alabama high schools and colleges (excluding Alabama and Auburn) who got on the field on the fifth Sunday of the NFL’s 105th season.

Six other former state players were involved in the Dallas-Pittsburgh game:

· Steelers outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) made one tackle in his season debut. Moon spent the first four weeks of the NFL season on injured reserve.

 Steelers running back La’Mical Perine (Theodore) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens had three receptions for 26 yards.

Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 44.4 yards on five punts, with a 40.4-yard net. Waitman had a 48-yard punt downed at the Dallas 24-yard line, a 46-yarder for a fair catch at the Dallas 34, a 34-yarder for a fair catch at the Dallas 15, a 47-yarder for a touchback and a 47-yarder out of bounds at the Dallas 14.

 Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

 Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams (Lee-Montgomery) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Dolphins defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

 Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Hill had six receptions for 69 yards.

· Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones (Enterprise, Troy) made four tackles and returned a punt 15 yards.

 Dolphins cornerback Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.

 Dell Pettus (Sparkman, Troy) started at safety for the Patriots. The undrafted rookie made eight tackles on defense and recorded another tackle on special teams in his first NFL start.

Washington Commanders 34, Cleveland Browns 13

· Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

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