{"id":28428,"date":"2025-02-24T08:30:08","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T08:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=28428"},"modified":"2025-02-24T08:30:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T08:30:08","slug":"make-or-break-2025-season-looms-large-for-cowboys-jake-ferguson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=28428","title":{"rendered":"MAKE OR BREAK: 2025 Season Looms Large for Cowboys\u2019 Jake Ferguson!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"m-detail-header--dek\">Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is facing a big 2025 as he enters a contract year.<\/div>\n<div class=\"m-detail-header--flexbox\">\n<div class=\"m-detail-header--meta\">\n<div class=\"m-description--list\">\n<p>The 2025 season will be a big one for the\u00a0Dallas Cowboys\u00a0for several reasons with the franchise turning over a new leaf with Brian Schottenheimer and his coaching staff.<\/p>\n<p>But player-wise, it is looming as a deciding one in the career of tight end\u00a0Jake Ferguson.<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-detail--body-item m-detail--body-item-inline\">\n<figure class=\"l-inline tml-image m-detail--tml-image--inline\"><a><picture class=\"is-loaded\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MjEzMDUwNDAzOTcxOTMzNzA1\/ferguson.webp 380w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MjEzMDUwNDAzOTcxOTMzNzA1\/ferguson.webp 620w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEzMDUwNDAzOTcxOTMzNzA1\/ferguson.webp 700w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MjEzMDUwNDAzOTcxOTMzNzA1\/ferguson.jpg 380w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MjEzMDUwNDAzOTcxOTMzNzA1\/ferguson.jpg 620w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEzMDUwNDAzOTcxOTMzNzA1\/ferguson.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"m-detail--tml-image m-image\" src=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/t_share\/MjEzMDUwNDAzOTcxOTMzNzA1\/ferguson.jpg\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"ferguson\" width=\"1200\" height=\"837\" data-src=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEzMDUwNDAzOTcxOTMzNzA1\/ferguson.jpg\" \/><\/picture><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-detail--tml-image-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"m-detail--tml-image-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<p class=\"tml-image--attribution\">USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-0\" data-zone-count=\"2\">\n<div class=\"not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d m-in-content-ad is-loaded\">\n<div id=\"ad-in_content-1b25c667ccd640ad9bab16faf096b828\" data-google-query-id=\"COqjgovy24sDFZ3fFgUd_TEDrg\" data-ad-size=\"adhesion\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/dallas-cowboys_2__container__\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/dallas-cowboys_2\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" src=\"https:\/\/2d987934042fd16d0de0d44b9a27eebc.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-41\/html\/container.html\" name=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-is-safeframe=\"true\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-container-id=\"3\" data-load-complete=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Coming off a season where injury and concussion derailed it, Ferguson didn&#8217;t catch a touchdown and only managed 494 yards from 59 receptions in 14 games. Yes, a large portion was with backup\u00a0quarterback\u00a0Cooper Rush, so the chemistry wasn&#8217;t there like it is with Dak Prescott.<\/p>\n<p>But Ferguson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and after a superb 2023 season that saw the &#8220;big biscuit&#8221; total 761 yards and five touchdowns, he needs a bounce-back season in the worst way.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"m-in-content-ad-row l-inline mm-in-content-ad-row--in-content not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\">\n<div class=\"m-in-content-ad not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d\" data-ad-group=\"in_content-1\" data-zone-count=\"2\">\n<div class=\"not-size-a not-size-b not-size-d m-in-content-ad is-loaded\">\n<div id=\"ad-in_content-062a9e8864ed4be79119a4970a839237\" data-google-query-id=\"CN3ejozy24sDFWrKFgUdFdcWWQ\" data-ad-size=\"adhesion\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/dallas-cowboys_6__container__\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/88059007\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/dallas-cowboys_6\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" src=\"https:\/\/2d987934042fd16d0de0d44b9a27eebc.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-41\/html\/container.html\" name=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-is-safeframe=\"true\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-google-container-id=\"7\" data-load-complete=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Being one of the offense&#8217;s best weapons, not named\u00a0CeeDee Lamb, Ferguson is playing for a contract in 2025, and we know that the Cowboys aren&#8217;t too fond of paying tight ends top money with Dalton Schultz moving on to the\u00a0Houston Texans\u00a0in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>For Ferguson, he needs to put what was a wash of a year that was hampered by injury, concussion and seeing Prescott go down, but now he might turn the page and get back to his 2023 form.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mm-embed-card--list\"><\/div>\n<p>The Cowboys, under Schottenheimer, need him once again to be a viable option in the pass game. Last season, Ferguson totaled under 25 receiving yards eight times, and that can&#8217;t happen again &#8211; especially if the Cowboys are to have a bounce-back year.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s coming off a poor 2024 season and is in a contract year\u2014it&#8217;s time for Ferguson to bounce back with his Cowboys career potentially hanging in the balance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mm-embed-card--list\">\n<div class=\"m-card--media\"><a class=\"m-card--image-link\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/dallas-cowboys\/dallas-cowboys-danger-losing-free-agency-running-back-rico-dowdle-news-update\" rel=\"\"><picture class=\"is-loaded\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_220\/MjExNzUxMjc0NjEyMjcxMDgw\/rico-dowdle.webp 220w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320\/MjExNzUxMjc0NjEyMjcxMDgw\/rico-dowdle.webp 320w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_640\/MjExNzUxMjc0NjEyMjcxMDgw\/rico-dowdle.webp 640w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"220px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_220\/MjExNzUxMjc0NjEyMjcxMDgw\/rico-dowdle.jpg 220w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_320\/MjExNzUxMjc0NjEyMjcxMDgw\/rico-dowdle.jpg 320w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_640\/MjExNzUxMjc0NjEyMjcxMDgw\/rico-dowdle.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"220px\" \/><\/picture><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is facing a big 2025 as he enters a contract year. The 2025 season will be a big one for the\u00a0Dallas&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>MAKE OR BREAK: 2025 Season Looms Large for Cowboys\u2019 Jake Ferguson! - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=28428\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MAKE OR BREAK: 2025 Season Looms Large for Cowboys\u2019 Jake Ferguson! - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is facing a big 2025 as he enters a contract year. 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