Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson sent a resounding message on Saturday night as he confirmed every notion that he's set to start as a second-year player just one year after being drafted in the fourth round.

But after the game, he didn't spend much time talking about his three catches that went for 38 total yards. Instead, he inadvertently warned players at his position about a dark horse rookie that could very well be leaving someone out of a roster spot come cutdown day on August 29th.

"(John Stephens) is a baller," Ferguson told reporters following the preseason opener. "He's making plays in practice, making plays in camp, and he made plays tonight. He's not even touching the surface right now, he's a great player and I'm excited to see what he kind of molds into and what he does for this team."

Stephens, a former wide receiver in college, is turning heads in training camp and has been one of the rookies with the highest buzz around him. He built on that hype on Saturday with five catches in seven targets for 56 yards and a touchdown. 

At 6-foot-5, the converted tight end is the tallest pass-catcher on the Cowboys and he knows how to use that on the gridiron. His profile has led to him getting some looks outside, too. In a previous article, I listed Stephens as the second most likely UDFA rookie to make the team due to his catching skills:

Stephens' workload in camp has mostly been discussed as a pass-catcher (he's even lined up outside multiple times) and not a blocker, which suggests he could have a difficult path to the roster in a position group that includes Peyton Hendershot. The latter has also shined mostly as a pass catcher.

"He's got a high ceiling and I don't even think we've even seen any sort of that yet," Ferguson added. "He's one of those guys that can definitely help us down the road."

Peyton Hendershot's seat is getting warm due to John Stephens

As alluded to in the quote above, it feels like – despite it being a crowded TE room – Stephens' battle for one of the 3-4 roster spots is all about beating one man: Peyton Hendershot.

A former undrafted player himself, Hendershot knows no job is ever safe in the NFL. While Sean McKeon must worry about Hunter Luepke because of his H-back type profile as a blocker, Hendershot's game is similar to Stephens' and vice versa.

If Stephens keeps proving he can be a legit weapon for the Cowboys with some upside as a versatile guy who can also line up outside and win with size and speed, Hendershot could be a surprise cut when it's all said and done. 

For now, however, Stephens is worrying about the one thing he can control: His own development.

"The speed," the rookie told reporters when asked about the biggest takeaway from his NFL debut. "Like, me transitioning to a new position, getting the footwork and all that right."

He has a few more weeks to prove just enough to earn a spot on the Cowboys' 53-man roster. If he doesn't get the nod, expect him to be a priority as the team builds its practice squad, and expect to see him at some point down the road.

Cowboys’ Jake Ferguson confirms suspicion following strong preseason opener

He’s looking like a menace.

Featured image via Dallas Cowboys' YouTube