Dallas Cowboys fans were eager to see how tight end Jake Ferguson would perform against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night. After racking up 24 catches for 151 yards and six touchdowns between Weeks 4 and 7, Ferguson crashed down to earth with a goose egg against the Denver Broncos in Week 8, highlighting how desperately he needed a bounce-back showing to end the campaign's first half.
Instead, Ferguson was hard to watch during Monday's 27-17 loss, and it's clear that the once-Pro Bowl TE is officially a problem for America's Team.
Jake Ferguson's Struggles Highlighted in Cowboys' Week 9 MNF Loss
Despite frequently being targeted, Ferguson failed to make the most of his opportunities against the Cardinals. He was targeted seven times, finishing with only 50 receiving yards. That's without mentioning how he fumbled the ball during the second quarter (h/t @NFL), and even though the Cardinals didn't score on the ensuing possession, the blunder did little to ease Cowboys fans' concerns.
If only the issues ended there. Ferguson had a dropped pass near the goal line, which likely would've led to a touchdown, and was even called for a holding penalty. He also failed to get out of bounds with seconds remaining in the first half, which led to kicker Brandon Aubrey being forced to try a 68-yard field-goal attempt that he missed.
Forgettable performances happen for all players, but the frequency with which Ferguson is coming up short has become a problem. He's only hit the 50-yard mark five times since the start of the 2024 season, which is something he did as many times during his 2023 Pro Bowl campaign, in which he finished with a career-best 71-761-5 stat line.
It's getting to the point where Cowboys fans have to wonder if Ferguson will ever look like his old self. The touchdown and reception numbers are still there, but his inability to help stretch the field while making costly mistakes makes it tough to enjoy the sparse positives, especially when considering how his four-year, $50 million extension doesn't even begin until 2026.
If Ferguson can't turn things around in the second half of the season, owner/general manager Jerry Jones must consider a change. Although the veteran TE's $10.4 million cap hit next season is becoming tough to swallow, the Cowboys can create $8 million in savings with a post-June 1, 2026, release or trade. Giving up on the deal before it even begins might be slightly embarrassing, but it's worth it if it helps Dallas' offense.
Let's just hope that Ferguson learns his lesson and comes back better than ever following the Cowboys' bye week. Otherwise, his time in Dallas might end sooner rather than later.