When the Dallas Cowboys signed John Stephens as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft, they had high hopes for the talented playmaker.
After playing as a wide receiver for TCU and Louisiana, he was converted to a tight end and trending toward making the 53-man roster before suffering an unfortunate ACL injury in the second preseason game against the Seahawks. He was placed on the injured reserve list before the season, ending his season prematurely.
This season, he hoped to emerge as a dynamic complement to Jake Ferguson, but unfortunately, his bad injury luck continued to follow him. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the 25-year-old just suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Wednesday’s practice. He will reportedly undergo surgery, likely ending his season.
Cowboys News: TE John Stephens Suffers Another Devastating Injury
Cowboys TE John Stephens suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Wednesday’s practice, according to sources. He missed last year with the same injury in the same knee. Surgery upcoming. He had yet to be active for a game this season but the club liked his upside.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 24, 2024
As Archer added in his post, the Cowboys liked Stephens’ upside. In the preseason, he showed intriguing flashes, catching all eight of his targets for 75 yards in three games.
This is a devastating blow for Stephens, who now has another long road to recovery and return to Dallas. Back-to-back ACL tears in the same knee will surely sap some of his athleticism, making it difficult to get many more NFL chances.
Undrafted free agents who haven’t done much in the NFL can find it difficult to continue getting chances. Once Stephens comes back next season, he will likely have to prove himself in workouts and minicamps before getting another opportunity.
