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Cowboys TE Is Already on the Chopping Block Ahead of Training Camp

The Dallas Cowboys will report to Oxnard, California, on July 21 for training camp to officially kick off the Brian Schottenheimer era.

They've made changes to both sides of the ball and look to redeem themselves after a disappointing 7-10 campaign.

Report: Cowboys' John Stephens Jr. tore his ACL at Wednesday's practice -  NBC Sports

Guys will need to impress the coaching staff to solidify their spot on the 53-man roster.

That said, one tight end who needs to step up, or risk being cut by the end of the summer, is John Stephens Jr.

John Stephens Jr. Is on Thin Ice for Cowboys

Stephens joined Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2023 after playing at WR during his college career at TCU and Louisiana. Despite being on the team for the last couple of years, he's suffered two torn ACLs, ending both his 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

Role Call: John Stephens Jr. Brings Size & Redzone Ability

The Cowboys have kept him signed while he rehabbed, but things aren't looking good this time around.

Dallas has Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, and Brevyn Spann-Ford ahead of him on the depth chart.

The biggest winner of the offseason so far is Spann-Ford, who received some first-team reps in minicamp before going back to the second and third team.

They also used a 2023 second-round pick on Schoonmaker, and the front office has high hopes for him, considering they used a top-60 asset to draft him. As for Ferguson, he's the clear starter going in 2025 and has shown he can be a reliable outlet in the passing attack. These three pass catchers have traits and tools that Dallas believes can blossom.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver John Stephens Jr. (49) celebrates scoring a  touchdown during an NFL football

Meanwhile, Stephens Jr. is coming off two major knee injuries, and the coaching staff who brought him in is no longer around. He's starting from scratch and is behind the eight ball.

In his college career, he reeled in 41 catches for 665 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Standing at 6-foot-5, he has the size to be a good red-zone target.

Despite having the size that could make him an appealing target, he's No. 4 on the depth chart. The three guys ahead of him with NFL experience have shown the team enough to keep them excited.

The same can't be said for Stephens Jr., making him a massive question mark going into training camp.

Dolphins Legend 3× Pro Bowl and 1× Super Bowl, Expresses Desire to Join Patriots After Being Released Due to Suspension – Willing to Give Up Everything to Repay the Team That Saved His Soul from His Darkest Days
Foxborough – November 20, 2025 The story of a former Dolphins legend – a player who was once selected to 3 Pro Bowls and owns 1 Super Bowl championship – is creating waves of emotion throughout the entire NFL. After being released because of a suspension, he is not seeking glory or an expensive contract. What he wants is to go to the place that once pulled him out of the mental abyss. A journey no longer revolving around fame, but revolving around gratitude. Right after the Dolphins officially announced the termination of his contract, he immediately contacted the New England Patriots side to ask for even the smallest chance. Not to rebuild his career, but to repay a debt of gratitude he believes he has never fully repaid. That sincerity has attracted attention not only from Patriots fans but also from neutral viewers, people who can clearly feel the desire for rebirth from a player who once stood at the pinnacle and then fell to the very bottom. In an interview broadcast last night, he left the entire press room in silence when he spoke about his darkest days. He said the criticism, the injuries, and the isolation had pushed him into a dead end. In that moment, he admitted there was only one single place that pulled him back up. “When the whole world turned its back on me, the Patriots were the only light that pulled me out of my darkest days. If I still have one chance in the NFL, I am willing to trade everything just to repay them.” And the player mentioned throughout the article is Odell Beckham Jr. He revealed that it was former head coach Bill Belichick who continuously called to check on him, even though he had never played a single snap for the Patriots. Those conversations were not about football but about the value of a human being. It was that sincerity, he said, that saved him from “the darkest moment of his life.” That is the deepest reason why he wants one day to wear the Patriots jersey – the place where Belichick once made history and the place where he believes he owes an entire spiritual life. Although the Patriots are seriously considering giving him a chance, according to sources from inside the league, he still holds hope that New England will open that final door. And at this moment, nothing is clearer than the truth that Odell Beckham Jr. is no longer seeking salvation for his career, but for his soul. If the Patriots speak up, he is ready to step in without hesitation – just as he said, only to be able to “repay the greatest debt of his life.”