Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schittenheimer has confirmed that tight end Princeton Fant suffered a season-ending knee injury during Monday's practice.
The fourth-year veteran was competing for the bottom of the TE depth chart, or at least an important practice squad role. Though he was leapfrogged by Brevyn Spann-Ford for more regular work, and has never really threatened Luke Schoonmaker's spot, Fant was still re-signed this past March to return and compete again.
Now that he's out, talented undrafted rookie Michael Trigg should get even more attention in the competition.
Princeton Fant's injury unfortunately creates a path for Cowboys UDFA Michael Trigg
Cowboys TE Princeton Fant has torn his ACL and partially torn his MCL, per Brian Schottenheimer. He will have surgery in the coming weeks and will miss the season.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 4, 2026
Trigg is just starting on a similar journey to the one Fant did in 2023. For the last three seasons, Fant has bounced between the roster and practice squad for Dallas, providing depth and special teams snaps as the "fourth" TE.
Just after last April's draft, the Cowboys beefed up the down-roster competition with the free-agent additions of Trigg and fellow rookie DJ Rodgers. Trigg was immediately labeled the prize of this year's UDFA haul, with many surprised he didn't hear his name called during the draft. But red flags about his character and effort from college sunk his stock, scaring teams off despite Trigg's clear athletic gifts and receiving skills.
Even before Fant's injury, many felt that Trigg was already going to surpass him in the TE pecking order. Some have even suggested that he could push Schoonmaker off the roster, though this is mostly a product of your typical post-draft hype machine.
For Trigg to have even threatened Fant, let alone Schoonmaker, he's going to need to prove a lot this summer about his professionalism and also his actual NFL potential.
Still, in the cold, hard reality of NFL life, Fant's injury does make Trigg's mission a little easier. It will likely mean more reps in general, plus more work higher up the roster.
Cowboys TE Michael Trigg needs to flash as more than just a pass-catcher
How one guy is perceived in camp can be impacted by how the guys around him are performing, particularly when we're talking about receivers and their quarterbacks. Maybe more throws from Sam Howell than Joe Milton, or more opportunities to work with the first-team offense, will give Trigg more opportunities to shine?
We shouldn't sleep on DJ Rodgers as a beneficiary here, either. As with Trigg, many draft scouts at least had a Day 3 grade on him. And while Trigg may be a more exciting prospect as a receiver, a down-roster or practice-squad role at TE often is more about dirty work value in things like run blocking and special teams. If Rodgers can outplay Trigg in those areas, he could quickly earn the coaches' favor.
Still, between his perceived potential and Baylor background, Michael Trigg is going to remain the focus of the TE bubble watch. We're still a long way from projecting him to the 53, but this Princeton Fant injury does clear the lane a bit. For the sake of Dallas' TE depth, hopefully, Trigg makes the most of increased opportunities.
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