It may have sneaked up most casual fans once again, but the Cowboys certainly didn’t forget about National Tight Ends Day. And while they didn’t take part in any formal recognition of the league-celebrated unofficial holiday, Dak Prescott and Co. ended up letting their talented group share the spotlight during Week 7’s win over Detroit.
It was a grass-roots effort from George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers that turned the fourth Sunday in October into National Tight Ends Day over the past several years. And while it was purely coincidental, the Cowboys had a whopping four of theirs in uniform for their meeting with the Lions, a team that just happens to be coached by Dan Campbell, himself a former Cowboys tight end.
While Sean McKeon didn’t see much action on offense (just two snaps), the other three Cowboys tight ends were heavily involved in the 24-6 Dallas victory, with Prescott going 8-for-8 in his passes to Dalton Schultz, Jake Ferguson, and Peyton Hendershot. The trio was responsible for 61 receiving yards and a score; Hendershot was on the other end of Prescott’s first touchdown throw of the 2022 season, in the quarterback’s highly-anticipated return to the field.
First TD pass of the year for @dak goes to Peyton Hendershot for #NationalTightEndsDay!!!
📺: @NFLonCBS | #DETvsDAL pic.twitter.com/SlsUFH2CRy
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 23, 2022
“What’s funny is actually, the flat to the right’s the first read,” Prescott explained in his postgame press conference. “And then Jake’s the second read. When I looked at him he was covered, and then I just see Peyton in the back of the end zone doing a jumping jack. And I throw it. They were giving me stuff when I get back to the sideline, like, ‘Oh, you didn’t throw it to Jake because he scored last week?'”
Now both rookies have a score on their short but promising pro resumes. According to Patrik Walker of the team website, it’s the first season in Cowboys history that two rookie tight ends have scored touchdowns.
“It had a little something sweet to it,” the undrafted Hendershot admitted of hauling in his first six-pointer on the holiday honoring his position, “but I’m just thankful regardless.”
The first Cowboy to congratulate Hendershot in the end zone after the score? Ferguson, of course.
“It’s [National] Tight End Day,” Prescott smiled, “so let’s feed them all. It’s just great for two young guys.”
Schultz didn’t find the end zone- and hasn’t yet this season- but he did log five receptions for 49 yards. He also managed to overcome another hit to his right knee.
The franchise-tagged starter first suffered a PCL sprain in Week 2. He missed the team’s next game, returned for Week 4 but didn’t record a catch, and then re-aggravated the knee against Los Angeles in Week 5. He was a late scratch last week in Philadelphia and was back in action on Sunday, though it looked like he may not last the whole contest.
The Stanford product was dragged down awkwardly in the first quarter by Detroit linebacker Alex Anzalone and stayed on the turf for several minutes. He was able to return, vowing to play through the injury as long as he is able.
Here's the play where #Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz appeared to suffer a right knee injury
He has returned to the game
Full analysis: https://t.co/QxNyFpyZDd pic.twitter.com/t7ISsHKEWU
— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) October 23, 2022
“I knew something was going to happen, and then the worst thing happened,” Schultz said Sunday, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “I was like, ‘Ahh, that’s ball.’ You run the risk of doing that every time you go out there. …[The knee] is finally getting to the point where it’s manageable, and hopefully it just keeps getting better and better as the weeks go on.”
He’ll look to repeat his weekly ramp-up to gameday once again as Chicago comes to town next Sunday, and hopefully continue to build on the rapport that he and Prescott have developed over the tight end’s five years in Dallas.
“Schultz is a guy that just, going back to his time coming in, has always been ready to work. He’s always been communicating and just trying to get on the same page,” Prescott explained. “I’d say we took a big step this offseason. We spent a lot of time together, whether it be [working on] routes, whether it just be personal or whatever it is. And I just think it shows. I have a lot of trust in him; we see the defense the same way. He’s important to this team, he’s important to that tight end room in growing those young guys.”
Even if it means letting the kids reap all the glory on National Tight Ends Day.
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