- John Stephens
- #49
- Team --
- Pos TE
- Status QQuestionable
-
Waived from injured reserve
The Cowboys waived Stephens (undisclosed) from injured reserve Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Stephens tore his ACL in October of 2024 and he was again injured this preseason. The 26-year-old tight end has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL contest and will look for an opportunity elsewhere.
Published: Tue, Nov 18 at 3:06pm by Rotowire.com
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Contract reinstated, placed on IR
The previously terminated contract between the Cowboys and Stephens (undisclosed) was reinstated Thursday, and he has been placed on injured reserve, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Stephens was initially waived by the Cowboys on Monday, but that transaction has been reversed and he'll start the regular season on injured reserve. The 25-year-old tight end will be required to miss at least the first four games of the season, which makes Week 5 against the Jets on Sunday, Oct. 5 the earliest he can play. Stephens has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game since signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in May 2023.
Published: Thu, Aug 28 at 5:05pm by Rotowire.com
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Cut by Dallas
The Cowboys waived Stephens on Monday, Joe Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Stephens appeared in just one preseason game this summer, catching three passes for 26 yards on 14 offensive snaps. Undrafted out of Louisiana last year, Stephens ended up tearing his ACL in practice last October. He'll look for an opportunity elsewhere.
Published: Mon, Aug 25 at 10:39am by Rotowire.com
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Participating in training camp
Stephens (knee) is participating in Dallas' training camp, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Analysis: Stephens is practicing again after having recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in practice last October. The 2023 undrafted free agent has yet to appear in a regular-season game but will have a chance to make his debut should he earn a spot on the team's final roster.
Published: Sat, Jul 26 at 1:11pm by Rotowire.com
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Shifts to IR
The Cowboys placed Stephens (knee) on injured reserve Saturday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Stephens is done for the 2024 season after suffering a left ACL tear in practice Wednesday. He missed the entire 2023 campaign due to an ACL tear in the same knee, a reality that leaves the 2023 UDFA out of Louisiana with a difficult road to recovery. He remains under contract with Dallas through the 2025 season.
Published: Sat, Oct 26 at 10:52am by Rotowire.com
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Suffers ACL tear in practice
Stephens (knee) sustained a torn left ACL in Wednesday's practice and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Stephens missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a torn ACL in the same knee sustained during the preseason, and he now faces another long road to recovery. The depth tight end hasn't yet suited up for a regular-season game with the Cowboys, but he remains under contract with the team through 2025.
Published: Thu, Oct 24 at 9:14am by Rotowire.com
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Healthy scratch for Week 5
Stephens (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday night's game against Pittsburgh.
Analysis: Stephens missed the first three games of the regular season due to a hamstring injury, but he will be a healthy scratch for a second straight contests. His next chance at making his NFL regular-season debut will be Week 6 against the Lions on Oct. 13. Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford will be the Cowboys' three tight ends for Sunday's game.
Published: Sun, Oct 6 at 4:08pm by Rotowire.com
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Not playing Week 4
Stephens (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Giants, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Stephens missed the first three games of the regular season due to a hamstring issue, but he appears to be healthy scratch for Thursday's contest. His next opportunity to suit up will be Week 5 against the Steelers on Oct. 6. Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford will be the Cowboys' three tight ends for Thursday's game.
Published: Thu, Sep 26 at 3:57pm by Rotowire.com
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Past hamstring issue
Stephens (hamstring) was left off Monday's injury report, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Analysis: Stephens missed the Cowboys' first three contests due to a hamstring issue, but it now appears he's moved past the injury. The 25-year-old projects to serve as Dallas' fourth-string tight end, so he will likely contribute most of his value on special teams as the season progresses.
Published: Mon, Sep 23 at 3:42pm by Rotowire.com
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Not playing Sunday
Stephens (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against Baltimore.
Analysis: Stephens was limited in all three practices this week but he will not play Sunday, and his next chance at playing will be Thursday against the Giants. The Cowboys will roll with three tight ends Sunday in Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford.
Published: Sun, Sep 22 at 12:14pm by Rotowire.com
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Questionable to face Baltimore
Stephens (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Stephens was limited throughout the practice week. With Jake Ferguson due back this week, Stephens may be inactive either way. Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford are set for backup duties behind Ferguson.
Published: Fri, Sep 20 at 2:32pm by Rotowire.com
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Returns to practice Wednesday
Stephens (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Analysis: Stephens has been held out of the Cowboys' first two games of the season due to a hamstring injury. He hasn't been able to practice over the last two weeks, so his limited participation Wednesday is an upgrade and bodes well for his chances of making his NFL debut Sunday against the Ravens. Stephens is the Cowboys' No. 4 tight end behind Jake Ferguson (knee), Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford.
Published: Wed, Sep 18 at 3:06pm by Rotowire.com
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Still sidelined
Stephens (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, Joe Hoyt of AllDLLS.com reports.
Analysis: Stephens was unable to practice last week leading up to missing the team's Week 1 win over the Browns. His absence from practice Wednesday will have him on a trajectory to miss Sunday's game against the Saints as well, especially if he is unable to practice in any form Thursday.
Published: Wed, Sep 11 at 1:54pm by Rotowire.com
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Out Week 1
Stephens (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Browns, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The 24-year-old tight end was unable to practice all week due to a hamstring injury, so it's no surprise that he won't suit up for the Cowboys' regular-season opener Sunday. Expect Brevyn Spann-Ford to see additional playing time in Stephens' stead.
Published: Fri, Sep 6 at 3:18pm by Rotowire.com
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Misses practice due to hamstring
Stephens (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Stephens will have two more opportunities to return to practice, but he's in danger of missing Sunday's regular-season opener against the Browns. The 24-year-old tight end has yet to see regular-season action for the Cowboys, as he missed his entire 2023 rookie season due to a torn ACL.
Published: Wed, Sep 4 at 12:05pm by Rotowire.com
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Making push for No. 2 job
Stephens has had a strong training camp so far and is pushing for the No. 2 spot on the Cowboys' tight end depth chart, Jon Machota and Saad Yousef of The Athletic report.
Analysis: Jake Ferguson is locked into the starting job, but after that the Dallas depth chart is unsettled. Luke Schoonmaker was a second-round pick in 2023 but has had trouble staying healthy to begin his career and is already battling a groin issue in camp. Peyton Hendershot (shoulder) has shown flashes as a pass-catching option but is also not 100 percent healthy. That's opened up reps for Stephens, a converted wide receiver who was an undrafted free agent in 2023 but made a good early impression…read more
Published: Fri, Aug 9 at 7:22am by Rotowire.com
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Limited for OTAs
Stephens (knee) will be working on the side as the Cowboys open OTAs on Wednesday, as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered last August, Nick Harris of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Last May, Stephens signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana, but he lost any chance he had at making the team due to the season-ending injury suffered in a preseason contest. Though still not 100 percent healthy, the 24-year-old tight end is getting closer to full strength.
Published: Wed, May 22 at 2:41pm by Rotowire.com
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