Cowboys rookie Luke Schoonmaker set to make training camp debut on Wednesday

Ever since the Dallas Cowboys selected Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 58 pick, they haven’t been able to see him at 100%. The rookie has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his foot, which had him starting camp in a walking boot.

Schoonmaker has now shed the boot, and according to Dallas Morning News‘ Calvin Watkins, the team plans to take him off the non-football injury list on Monday. That means the tight end can practice, albeit in a limited fashion, with the first preseason game coming up on Saturday.

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.

Considering they used a second-round pick on him, it’s clear the Cowboys have high hopes for Schoonmaker. What’s unclear is whether the young tight end will be able to catch up fast enough to make an impact after missing OTAs, minicamp and eight training camp practices.

Head coach Mike McCarthy would not answer whether fans might see the rookie tight end in action on Saturday versus the Jaguars.

“Like any of these situations, ramp-up is part of the beginning of camp for a reason,” McCarthy said of his practice plan. “We’ll put him through the workload capacity of a ramp-up. He’ll have a detailed worksheet everyday. He won’t be full-go. We’ll see (how far behind). Everybody’s injury is different. He seems to have a relatively high understanding of what’s being asked of him.”

Schoonmaker to make practice debut on Monday

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, it seems Dallas hopes the “Four Horsemen” can get the job done. Schultz had 577 receiving yards last season, down from 808 in 2021.

Schoonmaker’s new teammates are eager to get him worked into drills. Likely starter Jake Ferguson opened up last week about the work the rookie has been doing from the sideline since camp started.

“It’s always tough not being able to be in there with an injury,” Ferguson said of Schoonmaker. “That’s something you can’t really control. But when he’s not out there, you see him going through those mental reps. You can see how much he wants to be out there.”

“He was so fired up that he was running and almost slipped and I was like, ‘Calm down. We’re just in a walkthrough right now, Schoon,’” Ferguson added. “That’s great to see though — him taking in the mental reps. And that’s what you’ve got to do so when he does get in there he’s gonna be lights-out.”