Latest Jake Ferguson injury update sets the table for Cowboys in-house battle
The Dallas Cowboys got a mixed bag of news when it comes to tight end Jake Ferguson, who exited the team's season opener against the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury.According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Ferguson suffered an MCL sprain and will miss some time and will be considered "week to week." However, Ferguson's […]
The Dallas Cowboys got a mixed bag of news when it comes to tight end Jake Ferguson, who exited the team's season opener against the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Ferguson suffered an MCL sprain and will miss some time and will be considered "week to week." However, Ferguson's injury is not season-ending.
The news is somewhat unsurprising as optimism was apparent on the Cowboys' front in postgame interviews and press conferences. However, this will still be a major blow to the offense as long as Ferguson is absent as it greatly diminishes the weapons Dak Prescott has at his disposal in 2024.
Even after missing training camp, CeeDee Lamb showed he came back strong and ready as he played 71% of the defensive snaps as he led the team with five catches for 61 yards. Brandin Cooks followed with a total of 40 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown.
But the Cowboys need a strong No. 3 option in the passing game to go to. Although the Cowboys lack a proven option to turn to, they have young talent that could seize the opportunity and step up amid the circumstances.
Below are three players that will be put under the spotlight immediately, including two that could get into an in-house battle for the top TE role:
TE Luke Schoonmaker
This is the obvious one. A second-year second round draft pick out of Michigan, Schoonmaker has struggled to live up to the expectations he got to Dallas with. After recording eight total catches as a rookie, he left Cleveland with no targets on Sunday.
Schoonmaker will likely get the start at tight end next weekend when the Cowboys take on the New Orleans Saints and it'll be a perfect opportunity for him to bounce back after a slow career start.
He has the edge over the other young tight ends on the roster because of his experience with the scheme and the team seems to really like him as an in-line blocker.
TE John Stephens Jr.
Schoonmaker will get have to battle fellow second-year tight end to keep the role, however.
Although Stephens Jr. missed Week 1 with a hamstring injury, the Cowboys clearly believe in his talent, with Mike McCarthy even teasing a big role for him on offense.
"But yeah, I'm not looking at him as just a situational player, if you look at training camp and particularly the fundamentals, the drill work, the combination periods, (…) I think he's done a much better job in the inline blocking, so I am very happy with the progress he's made," McCarthy said last week.
At 6-foot-5, Stephens Jr. could be a dangerous red zone target. He has the ability to line up all around the field and if he proves to be a more consistent pass catcher than Schoonmaker, he might not only steal reps from him now, but could end up being TE2 when Ferguson is back.
WR Jalen Tolbert
Tolbert was consistently turning heads in practice during training camp this offseason and the Cowboys expect him to take a major jump in Year 3 of his career.
Although he was targeted only twice on Sunday for a 12-yard catch, Tolbert will need to be a bigger threat in the passing game for Dallas while Ferguson is absent to keep teams from zeroing in on Lamb all game long.
Tolbert has shown his talent many times. Right now, it'll be about being consistent when provided with opportunities on gameday.
