Cowboys Training Camp: Rookie Luke Schoonmaker's stock takes a big hit
Once expected to be the main event of Dallas Cowboys training camp, the battle for the starting job at tight end is dying down before it even starts. On Tuesday, it was reported that second-round draft pick Luke Schoonmaker will start camp in the Non-Football Injury list. Keep in mind that the rookie tight end […]
Once expected to be the main event of Dallas Cowboys training camp, the battle for the starting job at tight end is dying down before it even starts.
On Tuesday, it was reported that second-round draft pick Luke Schoonmaker will start camp in the Non-Football Injury list. Keep in mind that the rookie tight end also missed most of the OTAs and minicamp due to a plantar fascia injury (foot).
Now, the injury appears to still be an issue as it will keep him off the practice field at least for the start of training camp. At the very least, it means that Schoonmaker will be at a big disadvantage in his race with second-year player Jake Ferguson.
"We're just being smart with (Schoonmaker)," said Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy last month, suggesting that he was expected to be ready for camp. Now that he isn't, one has to wonder if the team was even expecting it.
Missing Phase III of the offseason and a chunk of camp is a legit problem for any rookie trying to develop quickly in the NFL. During the grind of the regular season, there's little room for player development as the coaches' mindsets shift from teaching the game to their players toward getting them ready for each week's opponent and corresponding game plan. Time constraints push player development down the priority list.
In Schoonmaker's case, the issue is made even more serious considering he'll turn 25 years old in September, which can be considered on the older side of things for a rookie. For context, Trevon Diggs, a former second-round pick with three NFL seasons under his belt who just signed a $97 million deal, will also turn 25 in September.
There have been exceptions to this rule, as the Cowboys themselves witnessed with LB Damone Clark last year. Although the fifth-rounder was expected to be sidelined for the entirety of his rookie year after having had spinal fusion surgery, he was activated for the first time in his career in October and quickly proved he belonged on Sundays.
In the meantime, Jake Ferguson's odds of taking over Dalton Schultz's job have increased significantly. In limited playing time, Ferguson showed flashes of impressive playmaking ability. He picked up yards after the catch by juking defenders or hurdling them in impressive fashion.
Ferguson finished the season with 19 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns in just 37% of the offensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference. The path is clear for him to solidify his status even before Schoonmaker starts practicing. He'll have to earn it every day, however.
Cowboys get mixed bag of injury news to start training camp
Take the good with the bad.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
