When the Cowboys let Dalton Schultz leave in free agency, they didn’t know how the tight end position would shake out in 2023.
For three seasons Schultz had TE1 locked down. Young players like Jake Ferguson ,
and Peyton Hendershot showed promise but no one appeared to be the clear long-term solution.
The unknown prompted the Cowboys to address the TE position with their second pick in the 2023 draft.
With selection No. 58, Dallas collected Luke Schoonmaker.
The 24-year-old was older than most rookie prospects but came with a level of polish as a run blocker.
Unfortunately, Schoonmaker’s plantar fasciitis had other plans and the rookie TE now plays the waiting game with his injured foot.
The hope was Schoonmaker’s experience would pay dividends early since the Cowboys may need to lean on him in Year 1.
It would relieve some of the burden from Ferguson and spread the Cowboys’ eggs across multiple baskets.
Dallas placed their rookie TE on the non-football injury list last week with a partial tear.
The notoriously cranky injury needs time and rest to improve which means it’s not something the Cowboys want Schoonmaker to tough out and push through.
Cowboys rookie TE Luke Schoonmaker said he is dealing with a partial tear to plantar fascia.
That is a more challenging foot injury than a complete tear.
That is a more challenging foot injury than a complete tear.