Dallas Cowboys rookie Luke Schoonmaker scores first career touchdown vs Jets
The Dallas Cowboys extended their lead over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon with a touchdown from quarterback Dak Prescott to rookie Luke Schoonmaker for the tight end’s first career score.
The pass and catch from the one-yard line was the first reception of Schoonmaker’s NFL career and gave the Cowboys an 18-7 lead with two minutes to go in the first half.
Although Dallas drafted Schoonmaker with a second-round draft pick this April, the former Michigan star isn’t yet starting. After entering OTAs and training camp with a foot injury, he took a bit of time to work in to the offense. Starting tight end Jake Ferguson got the Cowboys’ scoring started on Sunday, punching in a four-yard pass from Prescott in the first quarter.
Schoonmaker was able to begin practicing with the team in limited fashion at the beginning of August and played in the preseason. He had an eight-yard reception against the Jaguars in the first preseason game, and capped things off with a score against the Raiders.
Schoonmaker played four seasons at Michigan, but only two games over his first two years. He had a breakout senior season that put him on the map for the Cowboys.
In 2022, he had 35 catches, 418 yards, three touchdowns and 11.9 yards per catch. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 54 catches, 637 yards, and seven touchdowns.
Dallas tight ends strike first
The rookie is one part of the Cowboys’ four-man tight end stable. Although perhaps no single tight end will make up for Dalton Schultz‘s production over the last two seasons, they could do it as a group. Schultz had 577 receiving yards last season, down from 808 in 2021.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy says he believes Schoonmaker has the ability to become a “starter type.”
“The biggest thing when you talk about the tight end position — define a ‘starter.’ Is it 40-plus plays a game, is it 30?” McCarthy said. “A 17-game season, all these guys in a tight end room are going to contribute. But I would definitely view him as a starter type, as far as his impact. I know he will clearly play all four positions in the tight end area — on the line, off the ball, lead back and displaced.”
Cowboys start with efficiency vs Jets
Dak Prescott was off to a blazing start on Sunday against the Jets. He began the game going 10-for-10 passing for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Heading into the half, the former fourth-rounder is 21-for-26 with two touchdown passes and 165 yards. He took one big sack, which resulted in a loss of seven yards, however, he also has 16 rushing yards on the day.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is also having an extremely efficient game for the Cowboys. The former Sooner had seven catches for 106 yards on nine targets before going into the locker room up 18-10 at the half.