NFL Player News

Schoonmaker is in line to be the Cowboys' No. 1 tight end Sunday against the Saints with Jake Ferguson (knee) doubtful to play, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

A 2023 second-round pick, Schoonmaker has yet to miss a game in his brief NFL career, but he also has just eight catches (on 15 targets) for 65 yards and two touchdowns in 18 regular-season contests. As such, he won't hold as much sway as Ferguson for as long as the latter is sidelined due to an MCL sprain, but the increased opportunity for Schoonmaker should result in more regular looks from quarterback Dak Prescott. The other options to fill in at the position are Brevyn Spann-Ford and practice-squad member Princeton Fant.

Schultz (ankle) was a full participant in practice Friday and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Bears.

Schultz sat out a pair of practices Wednesday and Thursday, but it looks like those absences were mostly for maintenance, as he will again be able to play through the ankle injury he suffered early in the 29-22 Week 1 win over the Colts. He stayed in that game after initially sustaining the injury. Schultz's fantasy managers can deploy him as usual when the Texans host the Bears for Sunday Night Football.

Moreau (concussion) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Dallas, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Moreau was a limited practice participant Wednesday before upgrading to full Thursday and Friday. The lack of an injury designation suggests he's already cleared concussion protocol and will handle his normal role against the Cowboys. Moreau ran routes on only 44 percent of the Saints' pass plays in a Week 1 blowout of the Panthers, but he played 77 percent of snaps overall and put up a 4-43-1 line with four targets on his 11 routes.

Ferguson (knee) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against New Orleans, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Friday morning that Ferguson would miss another practice but could still play in Sunday's game if he returns for a light practice Saturday and looks comfortable working out. The Cowboys apparently consider it highly unlikely, setting up Luke Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford to fill in at tight end ahead of the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Ferguson is recovering from an MCL sprain suffered in the Week 1 win over Cleveland, and while he said the pain subsided quickly, he may still be bothered by stiffness and/or swelling.

Ferguson (knee) didn't practice Friday, but coach Mike McCarthy said the tight end still could play Sunday against the Saints if he practices Saturday, Patrick Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Ferguson hasn't practiced this week, even though he said Wednesday that his pain was a "zero" on a 1-10 scale, per Walker. Playing in a game seven days after suffering an MCL sprain has always been somewhat of a long shot, but it's at least promising for Ferguson's Week 3 availability that the Cowboys haven't yet ruled him out for Week 2. It sounds like Ferguson will be listed as questionable or doubtful on the final injury report Friday afternoon.

Knox wasn't targeted in Thursday's 31-10 win over the Dolphins.

Knox surprisingly matched Dalton Kincaid with two targets apiece in Week 1, but the Week 2 distribution was closer to preseason expectations, with Kincaid getting all four targets among Buffalo's tight ends. Barring an injury to Kincaid, Knox will likely be used primarily in a blocking role in Week 3 against the Jaguars and beyond.

Tremble (hamstring/back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, with coach Dave Canales saying Friday that he expects the tight end to play, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Tremble missed Week 1 and still hasn't logged full practice participation, but he at least managed limited status Wednesday through Friday after being held out entirely last week. His return could take playing time away from rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders, who played 71 percent of snaps in a Week 1 loss to New Orleans with both Tremble and Ian Thomas (IR, calf) inactive. Sanders was targeted once on 23 routes and caught the pass for a four-yard gain.

Smythe secured his only target for eight yards during Thursday's 31-10 loss to the Bills.

Smythe played 43 percent of offensive snaps Thursday, forming a rotation at the tight end position with Julian Hill and Jonnu Smith. It was Smith who led the position in receiving, securing six of seven targets for 53 yards, though he tied Smythe at 43 percent of the offensive snaps. With Skylar Thompson likely to start Week 3 against the Seahawks, and as long as Tua Tagovailoa remains in the concussion protocol, Miami's passing game seems set to decline until further notice.

Hill failed to secure either of his two targets during Thursday's 31-10 loss to the Bills.

Hill has drawn two targets through Miami's first pair of regular-season games, though he's come away with only a single catch for six yards Week 1. It's notable, though, that the Dolphins have deployed Hill, Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe in a fully fledged rotation to begin the regular season. The second-year TE will look to stay involved Week 3 versus Seattle, a game in which Skylar Thompson looks slated to start under center.

Schultz (ankle) returned to practice Friday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Schultz, who missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, is dealing with a minor ankle sprain and is expected to play Sunday night against the Bears. That said, it's still possible the Texans list the tight end as questionable for the contest on the team's final Week 2 injury report.