NY Giants will catch Dallas Cowboys without La’El Collins, Michael Gallup

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 04: La'el Collins #71 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the second quarter of the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 04, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 04: La'el Collins #71 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the second quarter of the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 04, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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With La’El Collins suspended, and Michael Gallup injured, the NY Giants will be catching the Dallas Cowboys shorthanded, without two key pieces in Week 5

The NY Giants haven’t even kicked off the 2021 season, but already have caught a couple of huge breaks ahead of their Week five contest against the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys.

Friday, in the aftermath of the Cowboys’ 31-29 heartbreaking loss to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas learned it would be without two critical pieces on offense for several weeks.

Offensive tackle La’El Collins was suspended by the NFL Friday, without pay, for five weeks for violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy.

Earlier on Friday, it was revealed that Cowboys No. 3 wide receiver Michael Gallup suffered a calf injury Thursday night against the Buccaneers.

Collins is one of the premier offensive tackles in the NFL, allowing just two sacks in 601 pass-protection snaps in 2019 prior to missing the 2020 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair a hip injury. Pro Football Focus gave Collins an 89.2 pass-protection grade for the 2019 season.

Meanwhile, Gallup has emerged as one of quarterback Dak Prescott’s favorite targets. Thursday night against the Buccaneers, Gallup caught four passes for 36 yards prior to getting injured.

Last season, Gallup caught 59 passes for 843 yards, and five touchdowns.

The NY Giants’ pass rush will certainly look to exploit Collins’ absence at right tackle, when the teams meet for the first time this season in Week 5.

Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com.