Don’t look now, but Luke Schoonmaker is back on the practice field for the Dallas Cowboys after missing the whole obligatory minicamp in June and the first two weeks of his first-ever training camp due to plantar fasciitis in his foot.
On Monday, he was officially activated from the NFI (non-football injury) list and participated in individual position drills before being held out of team reps as a precaution — head coach Mike McCarthy making it clear that the Cowboys will be cautious with the former Wolverine’s workload.
Schoonmaker says he feels excellent following his first camp workout.
“I just know that this week is going to be full of good things,” he stated.
However, don’t expect him to play in the preseason game against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, since while it’s not impossible, it’s also not likely, at least not right now.
“I’m hoping to go this weekend, but we’ll see,” the former All-Big Ten performer said.
McCarthy downplayed expectations after being confronted with the topic of Schoonmaker’s availability on Aug. 12.
“I’m really excited to see him in practice — today,” he remarked.
Schoonmaker, a road grader who can also make plays with his hands when called upon, is expected to add another dimension to a young tight ends room led by Jake Ferguson and with a talented former undrafted talent in Peyton Hendershot set to make an impression in Year 2.
But first, he must continue playing catch-up after missing several practices due to injuries. Prior to being activated, he was spotted completing mental repetitions on the sideline, including phantom reps during team drills, and his excitement was such that Ferguson had to calm him down a few times – presumably to avoid a setback in the healing process.
“[During the walkthrough], he was so wound up that he ran and almost slipped, and I told him to calm down. We’re just going through the motions right now, Schoon.” Ferguson stated last week. “However, it’s great to see him putting in the mental reps.” And that’s what you have to accomplish so that when he does get in there, he’ll be completely out.”
That’s the type of intensity the Cowboys like to see, and it’s what helped him build a reputation for himself at Michigan.
His ambition today is to reach that goal in Dallas in the future.
“It felt great [to get out there], especially after rehab — it’s the next step to coming back and putting it all together,” Schoonmaker said. “It felt great to play football together and run fast out there.”
“… I think I’ve done a good job with rehab and just trying to put my best foot forward so that when I do return, I’m moving.”