One thing about tight end Jake Ferguson of the Dallas Cowboys that we now know is that he plays without much fear. Actually, top linebacker Micah Parsons claims that he realized this rather early on in his meetings with Ferguson.
Ferguson, who played four seasons as a starter at Wisconsin, was selected by the team in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. Ferguson and Parsons had a falling out when Parsons was at Penn State, thus it is improbable that Ferguson “never heard of me” until he arrived at training camp. (Plus, Micah Parsons is a name that everybody knows.)
Nevertheless, Parsons clarified in his podcast, “We had a small fight in camp, so I knew Jake would be a problem. Since he has never heard of me, I have no desire to try something similar. However, after the performance, he kind of shoved me because we had been intimate. “Oh, that’s how you want to do things around here?” I asked. And he was, you know, sort of like, “Oh yeah, bring it.”
“I thought, ‘This guy is going to be a fighter,’ because of his confidence and ego.” Additionally, he is a man who will infuse this offensive with some vigor
.Jake Ferguson Has Become a Top TE
Ferguson has undoubtedly accomplished that. With 570 yards, he presently ranks seventh among tight ends in the NFL. With 51 receptions, he is ranked tenth. With five touchdowns, he is only one score behind Mark Andrews, George Kittle, and Jake LaPorta in the tight end lead.
Not bad for a player whose primary reputation had been as a blocking tight end. With Dalton Schultz heading to Houston for the upcoming season, it was obvious that Ferguson would play a larger part in the Cowboys offense, but the organization’s faith in him seemed questionable. This is due to the fact that the Cowboys neglected to address a number of other roster issues last year in favor of selecting tight end Luke Schoonmaker with their second-round choice.
Ferguson has come through, though.
Coach Mike McCarthy stated this week, “Jake has been tremendous, but he has an extra gear, no doubt.” “You just have to admire his enthusiasm, and he’s really helped to shape our offensive play style. His production speaks for itself.”
Micah Parsons Begs for More Votes in the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl
When he entered the draft or was in college, Ferguson was not well-known for his athleticism. He was a dependable passer and blocker, but there was nothing Michael Jordan-like about his 31.5-inch vertical. Nevertheless, Ferguson has received the most attention for this leap as of late in December of his second NFL season.
The leap occurred during a play against the Eagles early in the fourth quarter, following a short out pattern and a Dak Prescott ball. When Ferguson turned to face the Eagles defensive back, he saw that he was about to lunge for his ankles, but Ferguson leaped over the man. After landing, Ferguson tumbled forward for an additional five yards.
“Everyone is discussing Air Ferg right now. Ferguson in the air. Parsons remarked on the show, “And he told a fan that he would jump over an Eagle.” And Ferg is that. First and foremost, I would like everyone to vote for Jake Ferguson because I believe he should be a Pro Bowl tight end and that he is having a fantastic year. It’s incredible how he’s stepped up and entered the game this year. Now cast your vote for Jake Ferguson. He is a whole canine. He talks a lot of trash but doesn’t say much.
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
Â
