David Moore: No replacing Dez, but Williams is the Cowboy best suited to try

IRVING, Texas No one is brash enough to declare that the Cowboys can replace Dez Bryant.

You certainly won’t hear Terrance Williams make that claim. It’s not in his nature. The player who now assumes Bryant’s role quietly and conscientiously goes about his job, rarely drawing attention to himself.

But the third-year pro realizes he must assert himself as Tony Romo’s top outside threat until Bryant returns

He’s ready.

“These are the moments you train for,” Williams said. “I don’t have any pressure. I’ve just got to go out there and run the plays that coach calls and Tony gives me.

“Stick to my fundamentals and play fast. That’s what got me here.”

Sunday afternoon will be the first time in four years the Cowboys take the field for a regular-season game without Bryant. Philadelphia’s defense won’t have to worry about the Pro Bowl receiver who tormented them with six receptions for 114 yards and three touchdowns when these teams last met nine months ago.

“Well, I mean, let’s be honest,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “You’re going to miss the guy.”

No other athlete on the Cowboys roster can make the unique plays that Bryant produces on a consistent basis. He’s a monster in the red zone. Offsetting his absence will be done collectively, not individually.

But his absence also underscores these offensive facts: The Cowboys have one of the league’s top quarterbacks behind arguably the best offensive line with other weapons to utilize.

Jason Witten caught four passes and scored twice in the final eight minutes of the team’s comeback victory over the New York Giants. Cole Beasley continues to blossom as a slot receiver. Gavin Escobar and Lance Dunbar gave glimpses on opening night of what they can do with more opportunities.

But Williams leads the way. He worked as the Cowboys lead receiver during the offseason program as Bryant waited to sign his long-term contract and did the same during the majority of training camp as Bryant nursed a sore hamstring. Three of his five receptions in the opener came in the final 7:28.

“I really feel like there is good rapport with him and Tony,” Linehan said. “Tony trusts the heck out of him, and you only get that through experience.

“I think the term I use with him is availability. He’s been great. He would never tell you this, but I’m sure there are times he’s not feeling great week in and week out, just like every player who plays in this league, but he’s always out there. He’s out there on Wednesday. He’s out there on Thursday.

“I think that reliability is probably the biggest thing.”

Williams burst on the scene as a rookie with 44 catches for 736 yards and five touchdowns. He was unable to build on that in a second season that saw his receptions (37) and yards (621) drop.

Only four of the receiver’s eight touchdown catches came in the final 12 weeks of the season. He caught just 12 passes for 214 yards in his final eight games before rebounding with four catches for 130 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs.

“This year I’ve tried my best not to be a flash player,” Williams said. “I want to be in the right spot when I’m supposed to be there, so whenever Tony does or needs someone to throw the ball to, I’m there.

“I think I took that to heart this time. It’s really time to show what we can do.”

Devin Street, who’s caught all of two passes for 18 yards as he enters his second season, is expected to start alongside Williams, at least initially.

“He’s one of the guys I’m excited about to see how he can step up and take on more time on the field,” Linehan said of Street. “The expectations are obviously a bit different than a guy who is going in and spelling guys.

“He’s a good route runner, he’s a reliable receiver and I think with more opportunities he’s going to be able to show that.

“It’s going to be fun watching guys step up in their roles with bigger expectations and go on from there. I look forward to it. I feel really good about the guys and how they have responded to the challenges, being able to step up and get more responsibilities.”

Williams heads the pack.

“I look at it as our chance to step up,” Williams said. “I think when you have guys like Witten, Bease and Street, and you pay attention to what is going on in the huddle, Tony will put you in the right spot to make plays. The trick is now he’s going to be dependent on us a tad bit more than he was before.

“We have to lock in and continue to make plays for him.”

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