Promising third-year TE avoiding serious injury is a positive for Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have received good news on tight end Jake Ferguson, who exited Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.

In a 33-17 victory over Cleveland, Ferguson left in the third quarter after taking a hit to his left knee. On Monday, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport shared that tests revealed he suffered a bone bruise and an MCL sprain, but it's not a season-ending injury.

ESPN's Todd Archer reported the 25-year-old could still play in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, but Rapoport expects him to miss some time.

The Cowboys will probably turn to former second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker if Ferguson doesn't play. During his rookie season in 2023, he only had eight receptions for 65 yards and two TD catches in 17 games. Regardless, Ferguson and the Cowboys avoided a potential worst-case scenario.

Dallas QB Dak Prescott relies heavily on TEs. Citing ESPN Stats and Information, longtime Cowboys reporter Ed Werder noted Prescott has thrown 32 TDs to TEs over the past three seasons, the second most in the league behind Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.

Ferguson also broke out last season, making the Pro Bowl as a replacement. In 17 games in 2023, the third-year TE recorded career highs in receptions (71), receiving yards (761) and TD catches (five).

This offseason, the former fourth-round pick told Archer he attended Tight End University — a program founded by former Panthers star Greg Olsen, Kansas City's Travis Kelce and San Francisco's George Kittle — to raise his game.

"To me, I think I'm not even scratching my surface," Ferguson said, via Archer. "There are so many things I want to get better at, and I know that I can get better at. We watch film every day of different games, even the practices we're doing now, and I'm like, 'OK, I can get a lot better still.'"

Ferguson seems poised to become a valuable weapon in the Cowboys' passing attack, so it's excellent that he didn't suffer a severe injury.