Just before the game, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who signed a massive four-year, $240 million contract extension, told reporters, “I think we dodged a big one.” That appears to be the case when tight end Jake Ferguson departed his Week 1 game with a left knee injury with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter. He was spotted holding his left knee following a catch in which he stumbled while attempting to clear a defender.
He was doubtful to return at the time, but in the end, the Cowboys defeated the Cleveland Browns 33-17 without him. The good news so far comes from head coach Mike McCarthy, who stated via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that following the game that Ferguson is not thought to have suffered an ACL rupture. To get a better idea of his condition and the potential length of his absence, Ferguson will need to have an MRI on Monday morning.
Ferguson caught just three receptions for fifteen yards, therefore he was not involved in the game. The Cowboys’ offensive output was lackluster; they only acquired 265 yards, the most of which was in the first half.
In the second half, the Browns held the Cowboys’ offense to 34 yards. Their drives after the break produced two field goal-scoring drives and three three-and-outs, with good field position doing nearly all of the hard lifting.
How the Cowboys’ offense will benefit from a healthy Jake Ferguson when he returns
Because they made the Browns look one-dimensional, the Cowboys were able to win this game. With an 11-point advantage early in the second quarter, Cleveland was forced to rely more on Deshaun Watson and less on Jerome Ford. Sadly, the Cowboys offense did not perform much better, frequently stalling and depending on the powerful leg of Brandon Aubrey, who made four field goals, including a 57-yarder.
It would be devastating to lose Ferguson for a lengthy length of time. 71 of the 102 targets their starting tight end saw last year were caught for 761 yards and five touchdowns.
Among all tight ends, his 16.9% target share placed him 16th, but his 511 routes run were ranked third. For many fantasy football managers, Ferguson’s 25 red zone targets—which topped all tight ends—were the most significant factor.
Ferguson was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of the University of Wisconsin. He got limited action in his rookie season but blossomed in 2023, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl.
In Week 2, the Cowboys will visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 15, at 1:00 p.m. EST. The Saints are coming off of the largest blowout victory of Week 1.
