The Cowboys selected Schoonmaker in the second round of the NFL Draft from Michigan, and he's expected to compete for the No. 1 tight end role this year. If Schoonmaker wins that job, he could be worth a late-round flier in deeper leagues. He also could be someone to add off the waiver wire during the season. Schoonmaker's main competitors for the tight end job are Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot, but the Cowboys might like Schoonmaker the best. At Michigan, he didn't post huge stats with 35 catches for 418 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, but he might have a bigger role in the NFL. Dalton Schultz is now in Houston, and he leaves behind 89 targets, 57 catches, 577 yards and five touchdowns. He was a primary option in the passing game over the past three seasons. Now, Dallas added Brandin Cooks this offseason, and the Cowboys should rely more on CeeDee Lamb, Cooks and Michael Gallup then the tight ends in the passing game. But if Schoonmaker starts off the season playing well, he could be a waiver wire option during the season.
Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: First career catch produces TD
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Schoonmaker caught his only target for a one-yard touchdown in Sunday's win over the Jets.
After fellow tight end Jake Ferguson opened the scoring in the first quarter with a four-yard TD reception, Schoonmaker snagged his first career NFL catch and first career touchdown two minutes before halftime. Through two games with head coach Mike McCarthy as the new play caller, the Cowboys have leaned heavily on their TEs in the red zone. Ferguson already has five targets inside the 20-yard line, while Peyton Hendershot also has a target and a carry on a jet sweep at the goal line. That division of volume puts a ceiling on the fantasy value of any one member of the trio, but Schoonmaker will be a viable deep-league dart throw in favorable matchups, such as the one Dallas gets Week 3 against the winless Cardinals.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Finds end zone
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Schoonmaker recorded two catches on two targets for 14 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 31-16 preseason win over the Raiders.
Schoonmaker was on the field to start the game and played several series. The highlight of his performance came on a nine-yard score, when he leaked off the right side of the offensive line and then bowled over a defender into the end zone after making a short catch. Schoonmaker projects to work behind Jake Ferguson to begin the season but still should see the field plenty in his rookie campaign.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Foot is pain-free
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Schoonmaker indicated after Tuesday's practice that he's no longer feeling any pain in his foot, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. "It's pretty much back to where it was before [the injury]," Schoonmaker said of his plantar fasciitis. "I'm just doing strengthening stuff. I'm really trying to get the rest of my foot strong around it so that I don't have any issues."
Taken in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft despite his existing foot issue, Schoonmaker is expected to open his rookie season working behind Jake Ferguson at tight end. The rookie could push for a bigger role as the campaign unfolds if he's able to stay 100 percent healthy.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: One catch Saturday
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Schoonmaker caught his only target for eight yards in Saturday's 28-23 preseason loss to the Jaguars.
As expected, Jake Ferguson got the start at tight end for the Cowboys and was a favorite target of Cooper Rush early in the game, but Schoonmaker received his first taste of NFL action -- even if only of the preseason variety -- and caught Will Grier's first pass of the second half. The Michigan product has gotten in little work since being drafted in the second round of the 2023 Draft due to a partial tear of his plantar fascia, but he appeared healthy Saturday and should be able to start ramping up with an eye on getting ready for Week 1.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Will play Saturday
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Schoonmaker (foot) will play in Saturday's preseason game versus the Jaguars, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
A rookie second-round pick, Schoonmaker has been limited throughout training camp while recovering from a partial tear of his plantar fascia that he suffered during OTAs, but it looks like he's healthy enough to handle some game reps versus Jacksonville. With Dalton Schultz now in Houston, Schoonmaker is competing for snaps with Peyton Hendershot and Jake Ferguson.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Still making progress
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Schoonmaker (foot) will get more work in practice Thursday, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Schoonmaker continues to ramp up his activity as he recovers from a partial tear of his plantar fascia, which he suffered earlier in the summer. The Michigan product had his first practice with the team Monday following his activation from the non-football injury list, and he will likely see his participation level increase as the preseason proceeds, as long as he can stay healthy. The 24-year-old is expected to compete with Peyton Hendershot and Jake Ferguson for tight-end snaps this season.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Progressing toward health
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Schoonmaker (foot) was a more active participant in practice Tuesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
The tight end returned to practice Monday after coming off the active/non-football injury list, and Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said earlier Tuesday that the next step would be taking "some padded team reps." Schoonmaker has been nursing a partial tear to his plantar fascia since before training camp. The 2023 second-round pick is projected as one of the Cowboys' backup tight ends along with Peyton Hendershot behind 2022 fourth-round selection Jake Ferguson.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Comes off NFI list
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The Cowboys are activating Schoonmaker (foot) from the active/non-football injury list Monday, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Schoonmaker continues to work his way back from a partial tear to the plantar fascia of his right foot. The rookie tight end is expected to operate in a limited capacity in his return to practice Monday, and coach Mike McCarthy declined to comment about his chances of suiting up for preseason action versus the Jaguars on Saturday. In any case, returning for crucial training camp reps will be helpful as Schoonmaker looks to compete with Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot for regular-season work.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: No return timeline yet
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Schoonmaker (foot) may eventually be cleared for training camp but doesn't currently have a return timeline, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The Cowboys recently placed Schoonmaker on the non-football injury list due to plantar fasciitis that predates his time in the NFL. It's unclear if they knew about it when making him a second-round pick in April, but the team at least seems optimistic he'll be ready at some point this summer. Even if he's back by Week 1, the missed time in camp impacts Schoonmaker's rookie-year fantasy outlook, hurting his chances to eclipse second-year pros Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot in a TE room that no longer has Dalton Schultz.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Placed on NFI list
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Schoonmaker (foot) is on the active/non-football injury list for the start of training camp.
The use of the NFI list rather than PUP suggests Schoonmaker's foot issue predates the 2023 NFL Draft or else was suffered afterward while he was away from the team. Either way, the tight end was limited during spring practices and isn't off to the best start as he attempts to earn snaps for a team that lost Dalton Schultz to Houston in the offseason. The second-rounder out of Michigan will compete with second-year pros Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot for playing time.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Should be ready for training camp
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Schoonmaker (foot) is expected to be ready for training camp, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Schoonmaker has been sidelined while battling a plantar fascia issue, but it doesn't appear to be too serious. When healthy, the rookie second-round pick should compete with Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot for snaps at tight end in 2023.
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Cowboys' Luke Schoonmaker: Heading to Lone Star State
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The Cowboys selected Schoonmaker in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 58th overall.
Schoonmaker is athletic (4.63-second 40-yard dash, 127-inch broad jump) and has a viable in-line tight end frame (6-foot-5, 251 pounds), but the Michigan product doesn't project as a fantasy standout in the NFL. Schoonmaker turns 25 in September, and he struggled as a pass catcher for Michigan prior to last season. Schoonmaker's 418 yards and three touchdowns on 48 targets (8.7 YPT) in 2022 might mark a pivot point in his development, which may have been stunted by playing mostly quarterback in high school. Though more toolsy than Cowboys incumbents Jake Ferguson or Peyton Hendershot, Schoonmaker isn't necessarily more skilled.
