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Cowboys TE Is Already on the Chopping Block Ahead of Training Camp

The Dallas Cowboys will report to Oxnard, California, on July 21 for training camp to officially kick off the Brian Schottenheimer era.

They've made changes to both sides of the ball and look to redeem themselves after a disappointing 7-10 campaign.

Report: Cowboys' John Stephens Jr. tore his ACL at Wednesday's practice -  NBC Sports

Guys will need to impress the coaching staff to solidify their spot on the 53-man roster.

That said, one tight end who needs to step up, or risk being cut by the end of the summer, is John Stephens Jr.

John Stephens Jr. Is on Thin Ice for Cowboys

Stephens joined Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2023 after playing at WR during his college career at TCU and Louisiana. Despite being on the team for the last couple of years, he's suffered two torn ACLs, ending both his 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

Role Call: John Stephens Jr. Brings Size & Redzone Ability

The Cowboys have kept him signed while he rehabbed, but things aren't looking good this time around.

Dallas has Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, and Brevyn Spann-Ford ahead of him on the depth chart.

The biggest winner of the offseason so far is Spann-Ford, who received some first-team reps in minicamp before going back to the second and third team.

They also used a 2023 second-round pick on Schoonmaker, and the front office has high hopes for him, considering they used a top-60 asset to draft him. As for Ferguson, he's the clear starter going in 2025 and has shown he can be a reliable outlet in the passing attack. These three pass catchers have traits and tools that Dallas believes can blossom.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver John Stephens Jr. (49) celebrates scoring a  touchdown during an NFL football

Meanwhile, Stephens Jr. is coming off two major knee injuries, and the coaching staff who brought him in is no longer around. He's starting from scratch and is behind the eight ball.

In his college career, he reeled in 41 catches for 665 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Standing at 6-foot-5, he has the size to be a good red-zone target.

Despite having the size that could make him an appealing target, he's No. 4 on the depth chart. The three guys ahead of him with NFL experience have shown the team enough to keep them excited.

The same can't be said for Stephens Jr., making him a massive question mark going into training camp.

Saints Cheerleader Sues a Saints Player for Harassment by Flirting with Her While Already Married
Can you believe it? A charming, dynamic cheerleader from the New Orleans Saints is "exploding" and dragging a team player to court for "unforgivable" behaviors! Abigale Licciardi – the star of the Saints Cheer Krewe – has officially filed a lawsuit, and the drama behind it is stirring up NFL fans! Could this be the "biggest scandal" in Saints history? Read now to discover the "scorching" details! Abigale Licciardi, a professional cheerleader for the American football team New Orleans Saints in the NFL, is a prominent member of the Saints Cheer Krewe group. She is a former student at the University of Louisiana, where she participated in the local cheer squad and dance activities. Before that, Abigale was a dancer for NBA events and holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Tulane University. Abigale is active on social media, often sharing about games at Caesars Superdome, community activities, and her role as a brand ambassador for the Saints. As part of the Saints Cheer Krewe team consisting of about 47 members (combining male and female), Abigale participates in fan interactions, charity events like "Dream On 3," and performances at Saints games. She has an Instagram account (@abigalelicciardi) with posts about cheer life and a TikTok (@abigale_saints) where she shares videos about game days and dance routines. Before joining the Saints, she worked at a local event company, proving her versatility and passion. But the "nightmare" struck when Abigale got "entangled" with a Saints player! That's Mike Thornton, a backup defensive end who rarely plays for the Saints – a guy who's practically "anonymous" to fans, only playing sporadically on special teams and never a pillar. Thornton, 29 years old, has been married since 2021 to his wife, a community nurse, and they have two young children (one boy and one girl). Yet, according to Abigale's lawsuit, Thornton has been "flirting" with her recklessly, despite his happy family life! The "explosion" happened when Thornton started sending "sweet" messages to Abigale via Instagram, praising her smile and energy after performances. At first, Abigale thought it was just friendly praise from a teammate, but things quickly "crossed the line" into harassment! Thornton called her in the middle of the night – sometimes at 1-2 a.m. – to "share" about playing pressures, invite her for private dinners, and even send "suggestive" videos filmed at the gym! Abigale stated in the lawsuit: "He knows I only focus on my career and the team, but he won't stop. Those midnight calls make me anxious and stressed, severely affecting my performance!" According to insider sources, Thornton has been "stalking" Abigale since preseason, frequently "lingering" at community events she attends, and intentionally "creating situations" to approach her. Thornton's wife, upon learning, went "crazy" and threatened to break up, but the guy remains "blind"! The Saints are "shaken" by this scandal: The team management has temporarily isolated Thornton for investigation, while fans are divided – one side defends Abigale's "brave accusation," the other suspects it's a "staged script." The NFL league is also intervening, which could lead to heavy fines or removal from the roster! Abigale, with her "queen" image on TikTok and Instagram, is now becoming a "victim" of harassment – a thorny issue in the sports world! How will the court punish Thornton? And will the Saints "clean up" the team to protect their cheerleaders? Don't miss out – follow now for the next "drama" update! What do you think about this case, comment below!