In the realm of strategic maneuvers for the Seattle Seahawks, safety Quandre Diggs made a point to acquaint Jake Ferguson with the impact of a decisive hit delivered on the Dallas Cowboys’ tight end during the third quarter of Thursday’s match at AT&T Stadium.
For a fleeting moment, Ferguson had to compose himself. Yet, in swift recovery, he rose, signaling a first down to Diggs after gaining 14 yards on a second-and-13 play, ultimately setting the stage for a Tony Pollard touchdown.
As Diggs engaged in verbal exchanges, fellow safety Jamal Adams entered the scene, pointing at Ferguson. The two found themselves in an intense face-off, separated by teammates.
Ferguson explained, “Just letting them know I got the first down. You can talk all you want.”
In the fourth quarter, facing a 35-30 deficit, Ferguson found himself pitted against Adams on second-and-7 at the Seattle 12-yard line. Quarterback Dak Prescott executed a quick hitch, Ferguson maneuvered inside to create space from Adams, scoring the decisive game-winning touchdown with 4:37 remaining.
Promptly, Ferguson locked eyes with Adams, celebrating with a spirited spike.
“He’s a baller,” acknowledged Prescott. “His mentality, first and foremost, is why he is the guy that he is and having the success that he has.”
Ferguson’s evolution in his second year stands as a pivotal factor in the offensive triumphs of the Cowboys. Since Prescott assumed the starting role in 2016, tight ends have played a crucial role, from Jason Witten to Dalton Schultz.
Despite discussions with free agent Robert Tonyan, the Cowboys ended up drafting Luke Schoonmaker. Yet, Ferguson, a fourth-round pick in 2022, has seamlessly become Prescott’s security blanket, reminiscent of the reliability Witten and Schultz provided.
“There’s a lot of trust there,” emphasized McCarthy. “I mean, just on that last touchdown throw, you don’t throw the ball to a guy that you don’t have a lot of reps with. I think you’re seeing that with him and pretty much most of our perimeter. And we have to have that. We can’t play the aggressive brand of football in the passing game if we don’t have that.”
Ferguson’s stats speak volumes, with 46 catches for 498 yards and five receiving touchdowns in 12 games, ranking second to CeeDee Lamb in each category. Among NFL tight ends, only Mark Andrews and Sam LaPorta have more touchdowns than Ferguson and Schultz this season. His seven career touchdown receptions tie with Witten for the second most by a Cowboys tight end in the first two seasons of a career.
Ferguson’s rookie year, limited to 19 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns, saw him play 430 snaps. McCarthy noted that the demands of the NFL game took a toll on Ferguson, leading to a drop in weight. However, in the offseason, Ferguson added mass, maintaining it at 252 pounds during the season while playing 606 snaps in 12 games.
McCarthy attributes Ferguson’s progress to his strength and conditioning, acknowledging a natural maturation process. Ferguson’s football lineage, being the grandson of former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez, also contributes to his high football IQ.
A regular at Prescott’s offseason workouts, Ferguson’s connection with Prescott has strengthened. Prescott commends Ferguson’s dedication to the game and his teammates, emphasizing his continuous improvement.
Prescott underlines Ferguson’s significance, stating, “He’s a big-time guy for us.”