Gathers will likely be competing with rookie Dalton Schultz for a spot on the Cowboys' 46-man gameday roster each week, Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The Cowboys are expected to have only three tight ends in uniform for each game, with Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin locked into the top two spots on the depth chart. Gathers is the only member of the group with significant upside as a pass catcher. Head coach Jason Garrett said Monday that while Gathers has shown progress as a blocker and special teams player, the former Baylor basketball standout may not be at a point yet where he's trusted with those assignments. Garrett also spoke of "consequences" stemming from Gathers' recent arrest for marijuana possession, so the third-year player could be facing a suspension from the team regardless of whether the league also decides to hand down punishment.