After a Pro Bowl 2023 campaign, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson's production plummeted in 2024. The 26-year-old admitted it was a rough season.
"I definitely wasn't satisfied with how I played all last year," Ferguson recently said, via Nick Harris of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram.
In 14 games, the tight end grabbed 59 passes for 494 yards with zero touchdowns. Those numbers are coming off a 71/761/5 Pro Bowl campaign in 17 games in 2023.
A Week 1 knee sprain started the down season off on the wrong foot, forcing him to miss a game early. Ferguson couldn't find traction for most of the season, and then a Week 11 concussion knocked him out two games.
"My knee hurt, for sure," Ferguson said. "The concussion was weird. But I've said this before, if I'm on the field, I should be able to give it my all. I don't think I've ever played a full season and not scored a touchdown. That was something that I came into this offseason really working on. Just trying to really dial in on those things."
Last year, he put up three games of 50-plus yards and had eight with fewer than 25. Dak Prescott's injury didn't aid the situation, but Ferguson noted that he needs to be better at reeling it back in when things go sideways.
"That's the game of football, not everything is going to go perfect," he said. "Personally, I'm putting that in the past and I know now what I have to work on."
Underscoring the lack of production from non-CeeDee Lamb pass-catchers last season, Ferguson still finished third on the Cowboys with his 494 receiving yards last year. The addition of George Pickens should help in 2025, but a bounce-back campaign from Ferguson would do wonders for the Cowboys' offense.
"I think last year was a fluke [for Ferguson]," head coach Brian Schottenheimer said. "He definitely dealt with some stuff that was hard for him. Jake's always motivated. Jake is one of those tone setters who just plays the right way. But the look in his eyes and the way his body looks, in terms of physique, and the way he's moving has been noticeably different in a good way."