Is Jake Ferguson playing today? Latest update on Cowboys TE

Dallas Cowboys fans' hearts sunk into their stomach last Sunday when Jake Ferguson went down with a knee injury in the third quarter. Ferguson struggled to get off the field and could hardly put any pressure on his knee before ultimately being escorted to the locker room.

Many fans feared a torn ACL for Ferguson, but the Cowboys caught a huge break as he was diagnosed with a sprained MCL and a bone bruise.

Incredibly, Ferguson was back on the practice field this week. While he was limited to the rehab group, the fact he was out there at all confirmed he avoided a long-term injury.

Ferguson himself downplayed the injury to the media, calling it "a little bone bruise" and that he doesn't even think it's a Grade 1 sprain. Mike McCarthy hadn't ruled out Ferguson suiting up against the Saints, but that always felt like a long shot given how bad the injury looked in real time.

After failing to log a practice all week, the Cowboys officially ruled out Ferguson for Week 2 after Saturday's walkthrough practice.

Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson will not play in Week 2 vs. the Saints

It's an unfortunate break for Ferguson, but it's really no surprise. While McCarthy and even Jerry Jones echoed optimism surrounding Ferguson, he didn't practice all week. If Sunday was a playoff game, we might have a differing opinion but keeping him out Sunday is the smart move.

The fact Ferguson was supposedly close to playing bodes well for his chances to play next week against a tougher opponent in the Ravens.

While the Cowboys' offense wasn't great by any stretch in Week 1 and the tight ends behind Ferguson leave something to be desired, they should be able to beat the Saints without their Pro Bowl tight end. They crushed the Browns with Ferguson catching three passes for 15 yards on five targets. Sunday should not be any different.

That is not to downplay Ferguson's talent and importance to the offense and quarterback Dak Prescott. He was Prescott's second-favorite target last season.

Without Ferguson, 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker will be thrust into a starting role. We could also see more of fullback Hunter Luepke, who McCarthy raved about this week. Luepke played 20 offensive snaps in Week 1, including 10 as an inline tight end, per PFF.

Promising second-year pro John Stephens Jr. is set to miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury, so we could see a heavy dose of Luepke against the Saints. It seems as though the coaching staff has more trust in Luepke than Schoonmaker.

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