The Cowboys traveled to Cleveland and picked up a blowout win over the Browns, but they’re holding their breath waiting for some good news regarding their tight end.
Jake Ferguson left Sunday’s Week 1 game with a second-half injury, depriving Dak Prescott of a major target. The Cowboys already had a win within reach, but Ferguson’s status moving forward is a concern.
Ferguson had 15 yards on three receptions before his injury, trailing only CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks with five targets in the win. The 25-year-old had a breakout season in 2023, throwing for 761 yards and five touchdowns as part of Dallas’ high-flying passing attack.
Here are the latest updates on Ferguson’s injuries, as well as the fantasy outlook for the Cowboys’ tight ends.
Jake Ferguson injury update
Ferguson was hit in the knee in the third quarter and returned to the locker room with help. His return was initially listed as “questionable” but he did not return to the field due to the lopsided score.
Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson was slow to get up and was helped off the field after being hit on the previous play. pic.twitter.com/OLbZdeYyPt
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 8, 2024
Ferguson was seen limping out of the Cowboys locker room with his knee bandaged, although he was not on crutches.
Jake Ferguson exits with limp and bandaged left knee pic.twitter.com/iBe6vqhH6y
– Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) September 8, 2024
The tight end told reporters He will have an MRI on Monday and added that he hopes it is simply hyperextension.
Prescott echoed that optimism, tell journalists“I think we avoided a big blow. Just talking to him gave me a lot of confidence.”
Tests conducted Monday confirmed that Ferguson did not have an ACL injury, but that he did have a medial collateral ligament tear that will sideline him for a period of time, but not the rest of the season. As with Jordan Love’s medial collateral ligament tear, the severity of the injury will determine Ferguson’s exact timetable.
Tests revealed a MCL sprain for #Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson, which means he’ll miss some time. But overall, it’s good news and it’s not the end of the season. https://t.co/SV0DlN4Uxd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 9, 2024
Sunday’s game was a huge success for the Cowboys, with a defense that sacked Deshaun Watson six times in his first game under DC Mike Zimmer and Dak Prescott running the offense well despite not being asked to do much. A prolonged absence from Ferguson could significantly dampen that momentum, though the third-year TE seems to think his prognosis won’t be too bad.
Jake Ferguson’s Fantastic Perspectives
Ferguson was ranked as SN’s No. 9 tight end in PPR leagues heading into the season and No. 10 among all tight ends heading into Week 1. While he didn’t deliver with just 15 yards on three receptions, there’s nothing about Ferguson’s game that should give fantasy owners pause.
He was targeted five times in two and a half quarters, behind only Lamb and Cooks, and the Cowboys avoided doing too much work through the air after building a sizable lead; while Prescott threw 32 passes, he largely limited his chances and stuck to short gains.
Once Ferguson is back on the field, he should likely fit right in where he was projected to at the start of the season. If he is forced to miss time, however, Luke Schoonmaker is next in line to line up. The second-year tight end didn’t have a reception Sunday and likely doesn’t have the same potential as Ferguson as a receiver, so most of Ferguson’s targets could go to wide receivers.
