The Dallas Cowboys surprised a lot of people with the player they selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. With the No. 58 overall pick, the Cowboys selected Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker.
Some people thought that Dallas was targeting a tight end with their first-round pick, but they were jumped by the Buffalo Bills, who selected Dalton Kincaid. The Cowboys filled another need, selecting Schoomaker’s teammate Mazi Smith with their first-round pick.
In the second round, there were fans and analysts alike that were hoping the Cowboys would pull the trigger on Florida offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence. Depth along the offensive line was a more pressing need for the Cowboys, but they opted to select Schoonmaker. Torrence went the next pick to none other than the Bills.
Anyone who was against the pick certainly won’t be thrilled about the upgrade that was provided on Schoonmaker. The Cowboys delivered a brutal injury update on the rookie tight end as he was spotted in a walking boot during OTAs.
That certainly isn’t encouraging as the Cowboys OTAs were glorified walkthroughs. After having the hammer dropped on him for practices that were too intense last year, head coach Mike McCarthy scaled things back this year. So much so that even running back Tony Pollard was able to participate.
Getting injured during that light of practice certainly isn’t a positive for Schoonmaker, who is dealing with minor inflammation in his foot according to a staff report on the Cowboys’ official team website.
Any injuries suffered during non-contact practices will raise some eyebrows. Is the injury as simple as inflammation that will subside with some rest and time in a boot, or is the issue a more serious one that the team will discover after a few days?
This is about as bad of a start that a rookie can have as these OTAs are a great time for them to get acclimated to life in the NFL and learn a new playbook. Based on the information that was shared, Schoonmaker should be able to get back on the field for the next portion of the offseason program.
Until then, the team will be relying on Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershoot to handle first-team reps. That trio will be attempting to replicate the production that Dalton Schultz provided the team, but he moved on in free agency, signing with the Houston Texans.
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