Dallas Cowboys: First-Year Playmaker Excelling with Opportunities
Through six games, the Dallas Cowboys have suffered a number of key injuries on both sides of the ball. Including but not limited to: QB Dak PrescottOL Tyron SmithOL Jason PetersS/LB Jayron KearseTE Dalton Schultz Quarterback is seemingly answered itself. Backup Cooper Rush is 4-1 on the season but lacks many of the abilities that […]
Through six games, the Dallas Cowboys have suffered a number of key injuries on both sides of the ball.
Including but not limited to:
- QB Dak Prescott
- OL Tyron Smith
- OL Jason Peters
- S/LB Jayron Kearse
- TE Dalton Schultz
Quarterback is seemingly answered itself. Backup Cooper Rush is 4-1 on the season but lacks many of the abilities that make Prescott special. While an efficient QB2, the return of Prescott should only be good for the offense.
Both Smith and Peters have/will miss extended time. Neither look like they're going to reclaim starting jobs (barring injury) but are valuable depth pieces.
The Cowboys safety play is a revelation so far. Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker are playing their best ball, with Israel Mukuamu also adding valuable plays off the bench.
However, the tight end position just might be the most surprising. Dalton Schultz, the Cowboys TE1 has been dealing with and playing through a knee injury since week two versus Cincinnati.
As a result, Dallas is running plenty of 12-personnel. Featuring rookie TE's Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot. Hendershot being the more athletic receiver of the two, while Ferguson is primarily used as a blocker and occasional receiver.
However, with Ferguson's heavier use as a receiver against the Eagles, it's opened up the reality that the Cowboys most complete TE is their fourth-round rookie draft pick.
Ferguson is consistently displaying himself as the Cowboys best blocking tight end. Now is showing that while he's not as vertical of a threat as Hendershot, he's a good route runner and slippery after the catch.
All attributes given to him in his draft analysis. Even more impressive is he's doing this despite having only played 48.8% of the team's offensive snaps so far. Outplaying many of his teammates.
At the rate he's playing, Ferguson is likely to see an uptick in snaps, even though Hendershot is the common TE used in passing situations.
With Schultz continuing to deal with a knee injury, the Dallas Cowboys will continue to feature their rookie TE pair. Meaning Ferguson is only going to impress more and more as the season progresses.
Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
