Dallas Cowboys Tight Ends: Ferguson & Schoonmaker Evaluation in Post-Jason Witten Era

Dallas Cowboys Tight Ends: Ferguson & Schoonmaker Evaluation in Post-Jason Witten Era

Football fans will literally never see Jason Witten's performance against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 4, 2007 repeated. 

Even with new helmet rules outlawing a duplication of his famous, bareheaded run to glory, current Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson did what he could to pay homage. 

Almost 16 years to the day that Witten's headgear was removed, his successor Ferguson put in a career day against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Ferguson has been one of the more consistent names lining up at tight end since Witten rode off into the North Texas sunset before the start of the decade, but he was one of the most relied-upon names in a 28-23 defeat, picking up 91 yards on seven receptions.

His yardage output was the best by a Dallas tight end since Witten's cleats last touched Arlington turf in 2019, besting the previous best of 88 set by Dalton Schultz in Sept. 2020.

Ferguson (87) put up a career-best 91 yards in defeat / USA TODAY SPORTS

Though Dallas' visits to the red zone continue to leave much to be desired, Ferguson has been one of the closest things resembling consistency inside the opponents' 20. The Wisconsin alum lived up to that reputation on Dallas' opening drive, scoring from four yards out for an early equalizer. 

But Ferguson was sought all over the field on Sunday: all but two of his receptions generated a fresh set out of downs or six points and another target drew defensive pass interference that set up the second tally, a KaVontae Turpin six-pointer that gave Dallas a lead the first half.

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Dallas' tight end room in the post-Witten era has been a distressingly eventful affair, perhaps providing plenty of fodder for those stumped on Cowboys squares in the Immaculate Grid. Schultz is one of the most prominent and reliable faces of the Houston Texans' ongoing resurgence and the Cowboys (5-3) used a second-round pick on Michigan alum Luke Schoonmaker last spring to combat the issues.

If the catch isn’t complete until you go to the ground with the football, then why isn’t location of possession determined at that moment as well - as Schoonmaker hits the ground with the ball over the goal line. pic.twitter.com/Qf99rq7bSm

— Marc Istook (@MarcIstook) November 6, 2023

And "Schoon'' was in play on Sunday at Philly, coming up inches short of the end zone near the end of the game on a controversial almost-TD pass.

But even with a heartbreaking defeat, Sunday was a major step forward for the tight end room led by Ferguson, who continues to make a name for himself as one of the Cowboys' most reliable scorers. If big gains across the field become a consistent part of his game, especially with the non-CeeDee Lamb primary receivers offering less-than-stellar returns again, the Cowboys will remain a force to be reckoned with as they embark on a potentially winning second half. 

Ferguson's next opportunity to impress comes against another divisional opponent as the Cowboys face the New York Giants in Arlington next Sunday (3:25 p.m. CT, Fox).