Dallas City News

The Dallas Cowboys kicked off their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and everything, including CeeDee Lamb’s absence, went just about as expected.

One of the somewhat surprising things was that tight end Peyton Hendershot did not participate in practice. The Cowboys have Jake Ferguson leading the charge at the tight end position, but their depth has already been challenged this offseason with second-year man Luke Schoonmaker dealing with shoulder surgery and a hamstring injury.

Schoonmaker’s absence suggested future opportunities for someone like UDFA Brevyn Spann-Ford, but also for someone further up the depth chart in Peyton Hendershot. As far as why Hendershot was absent on Tuesday, according to the mothership he had a minor medical procedure that was not related to an ankle issue he has been dealing with.

The Dallas Cowboys began their team minicamp on Tuesday, as each player on the roster was in attendance for the mandatory team workout aside from two players: CeeDee Lamb and Peyton Hendershot.

While Lamb’s absence was expected as he awaits a new contract extension with the team, Hendershot’s absence was credited to a minor medical procedure that he needed to have done. If Hendershot had been present, he still would have been working with the rehab group as he nurses an ankle injury. The procedure is not related to his ankle issue.

This hardly seems like a major issue (the word “minor” is in fact used) in general, let alone that we are talking about a minicamp in the month of June. There is still plenty of time until training camp arrives, but given the situation with Schoonmaker, the overall group should be monitored once we do get there given the precarious depth.

Perhaps the ultimate beneficiary here is John Stephens Jr. who was lost last year during the preseason. Stephen Jones has said many times that Stephens was on track to make the final roster before his injury so an appropriate opportunity could open the door again.