Dallas Cowboys Tight End John Stephens Jr. Suffers Season-Ending Injury

In a heartbreaking turn of events for the Dallas Cowboys, tight end John Stephens Jr. has torn his left anterior cruciate ligament during practice on Wednesday, as confirmed by head coach Mike McCarthy on Thursday. This unfortunate injury will sideline Stephens for the remainder of the season.

Stephens, who has yet to take the field for the Cowboys this year, previously endured a similar fate, missing the entire 2023 season after suffering a torn ACL in the same knee during the preseason, which landed him on injured reserve.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent from Louisiana in 2023, will now return to the IR list, leaving fans and teammates alike feeling the weight of this setback.

“I’m very disappointed,” McCarthy expressed, reflecting on the impact of the injury. “You could feel the energy that practice was taking away from him. We can’t say enough about him. He’s a young man with a very bright future, but this is just another setback, unfortunately.”

McCarthy went on to praise Stephens’ work ethic, stating, “It’s just the work he’s done. He’s here every day, and he’s done everything that’s been asked of him. Frankly, we were trying to work him harder after the bye week and get him more involved.”

“Just a really unfortunate injury,” he concluded, echoing the sentiments of many who have watched Stephens’ journey thus far.

The Cowboys, currently sitting at a 3-3 record, will have to navigate the rest of the season without the promising tight end, but the hope remains that this talented player will bounce back stronger than ever in the future. Fans will be eagerly waiting to see his return to the field in the seasons to come.