The Dallas Cowboys lost a tight end on Monday, August 3, 2026, when Princeton Fant tore his ACL and partially tore his MCL during practice. The injury was confirmed by head coach Brian Schottenheimer on Tuesday following the team's assessment. Fant is expected to miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing surgery in the coming weeks.
The headline is the injury; the story is what it exposes about the Cowboys' tight end depth.
Fant was never projected to be the next great Cowboys tight end. He is a second-year player yet to record an NFL catch and was competing for one of the last roster spots in a crowded position room. But his loss matters beyond his limited production, as it removes a critical layer of depth from a group already thinner than the franchise would like to acknowledge.
Schottenheimer referred to Fant by his nickname "Bull" on Tuesday: "Bull did suffer ACL. Got a partial MCL. Really disappointed for him for everything that he's put into this." That nickname, earned in practice sessions rather than from game film, reflects the respect Fant earned through his work ethic--blocking, special teams, and grinding through August practices. Now, that work has come to an abrupt halt for the year.
The reality not often discussed is that the Cowboys' tight end corps was already one unfortunate injury away from being problematic. Fant's ACL tear is that ill-timed injury.
Currently, Jake Ferguson is the clear starter, coming off a 2025 season with 82 receptions for 600 yards and 8 touchdowns. The gap between him and the rest of the tight ends is significant. Luke Schoonmaker, drafted in the second round in 2023, had 14 catches for 132 yards last year without scoring. Brevyn Spann-Ford contributed 9 receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown in 2025.
Those are the three veterans on the roster. Behind them are DJ Rogers and Michael Trigg, neither of whom have yet recorded verified NFL statistics. This is not depth; it's an uncertain hope.
On the bright side, losing Fant does not impact the starting lineup or Ferguson's role significantly. Fant's role was limited, and he was more of a camp body with an inside track to a roster spot, not a key weapon on offense.
However, that is the crux of the problem. If Fant was the fourth or fifth option, and the room has only three proven contributors, then an injury to Ferguson means the Cowboys must rely on Schoonmaker as a primary target, which is far from ideal.
Schottenheimer underscored the need for more to step up recently: "We need a couple more guys to continue to step up, not named Pickens and Lam." While that remark was aimed at the receiving corps broadly, it applies strongly to tight ends. George Pickens, last year's standout with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns, and CeeDee Lamb, with 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and 3 touchdowns, are the offensive anchors. The tight end unit was meant to be a reliable support piece.
Ferguson fulfilled that role last year, but the drop-off after him is sharp. Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford offer limited production compared to Ferguson's 82 receptions. This is not a committee; it is a solo act with a couple of backups.
The timing intensifies the challenge. The Cowboys are in the midst of training camp in early August, with preseason games starting soon and the roster cutdown looming at the end of the month. The tight end position is not one where available, NFL-ready talent is abundant. The best players are already on rosters; those available are often so for a reason.
The prudent approach for the Cowboys should be deliberate, not dramatic.
They should let the veterans and hopefuls compete through the preseason to see if Rogers or Trigg impresses enough to secure a roster spot. If neither shows sufficient promise, the Cowboys will face a choice before final roster cuts: carry only three tight ends and allocate the extra spot elsewhere or explore veteran options on the waiver wire.
An overreaction, like trading draft capital for a mid-tier tight end, would be both premature and costly. The 2026 draft is complete, and 2027 picks are valuable assets not to be surrendered impulsively due to an injury to a second-year player on the fringe of the roster.
General Manager Will McClay has maintained a steady, process-oriented approach to roster construction. He trusts the depth chart as assembled, which includes investments in this position. Schoonmaker was a second-round pick, Ferguson a fourth-rounder who blossomed into a reliable starter, and Spann-Ford has flashed his potential. Fundamentally, the position group's infrastructure is sound.
The real concern is the margin for error. Schoonmaker's limited production--14 catches in a full season--does not offer a trustworthy safety net if a starter is sidelined. Spann-Ford's strengths lie more in blocking than receiving, making him a solid but limited No. 2 or No. 3 option. Together, they cannot replace a starter like Ferguson.
The recommendation: the Cowboys should head into the regular season planning to carry four tight ends instead of three. Fant's injury opens a spot that was likely his. That position should be given to Rogers or Trigg, allowing them to prove themselves primarily on special teams and keep the group at full strength. If either player shows promise during preseason action, that would ease pressure. If not, the waiver wire remains an option in September.
More broadly, losing Fant is not a season-altering setback. It serves as a reminder. The Cowboys have constructed a roster with star power at quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive line. The tight end room was never a marquee strength but was adequate as a complementary piece. Adequacy suffices when the offense is led by a strong offensive line and elite receivers.
Schottenheimer offered insight on the offense's focus: "I really do believe that this offense is going to be driven by our offensive line." If that holds true, tight ends must emphasize blocking over receiving. Ferguson can do both, with Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford primarily blocking. The offense will function.
Yet, if Ferguson becomes unavailable, the Cowboys would be asking Schoonmaker--a player with no NFL catches--to step into a primary receiving role. That risk underscores the hidden challenge within this injury news.
Fant was never expected to be the solution. His torn ACL merely amplifies a question the Cowboys have been quietly facing. The next three weeks and the preseason will reveal whether in-house options can step up or if external action is necessary. Discipline suggests the former.
Nevertheless, keeping a vigilant eye on the waiver wire post-cutdown day is wise. If Rogers and Trigg fail to impress, the Cowboys might need to make an unplanned move. It's how the ACL tear of a second-year tight end becomes central to a roster decision as the season approaches.
The Cowboys' path forward will be a balancing act--leaning on faith in development and depth, while remaining pragmatic to ensure the tight end group can support the team's championship aspirations in 2026.
