The Dallas Cowboys have several players either dealing with injuries or working their way back from injury during OTAs. Head coach Mike McCarthy provided updates on three key contributors on Wednesday, including Luke Schoonmaker who could miss the entirety of the “Phase 3” program due to a new ailment.
Schoonmaker, the Cowboys’ second-round pick in 2023, is currently making his way back to form after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. However, a new hamstring injury is keeping him off the field this week. Barring a setback, the second-year tight end out of Michigan should be ready to play again by training camp.
Schoonmaker had a slow start to his rookie season after coming into camp with a foot injury. He made his first career catch in a Sept. 17 matchup against the New York Jets, which also went for a touchdown. He ended the year with eight catches on 15 targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
Though many expected him to make a move to be the top tight end on the team after Dallas took him in the second round, it was Jake Ferguson that led the way instead. Ferguson is back after finishing second on the team in receiving, posting 761 yards on 71 receptions last season. The Cowboys did not draft a tight end during the 2024 NFL Draft, signaling their satisfaction with both the depth and talent in coach Lunda Wells’ room. This season could serve as a breakout season for Schoonmaker, if he can remain healthy.
Cowboys with ACL injuries nearing return
Aside from the bad news on Schoonmaker, McCarthy’s updates brought positive news on the injury front. Star cornerback Trevon Diggs, 2023 third-round linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and undrafted tight end John Stephens Jr. are all near 100% following their ACL tears last year. McCarthy told reporters that full-go by training camp for the injured defenders will be “in consideration.”
“They look great,” McCarthy said, via Jon Machota. “Really just staying on time with their process. Trevon is hitting the four-day-a-week. He’s working primarily with (trainer) Britt Brown. … D-Mo actually looks really good. We’re respecting the timeline. If I was a doctor, which I’m not, I’d say he’s a little ahead of schedule.”
Overshown missed his rookie season with Dallas after suffering an ACL tear in a preseason game against the Seahawks. However, he appears ready for a major comeback in 2024 after bulking up this offseason. Before his injury, the former Texas star was “climbing,” according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
“He was climbing. He was climbing the charts,” McCarthy said. “… Showed up right away in the offseason program, just his ability to fly around. Really has excellent command.”
In the Cowboys’ preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Overshown led the team huddle after warmups and recorded six combined tackles by halftime to pace all of Dallas’ defenders.
Trevon Diggs’ return is also highly anticipated. The team’s former interceptions leader will look to reclaim his title from DaRon Bland who led the league in 2023 with nine. Bland told reporters last month that he’s expecting “something dangerous” from the former Alabama star this season.
