By Solomon 
Luke Schoonmaker is running out of time to prove himself with the Dallas Cowboys. As a second-round pick heading into his third season, he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, and now the pressure is on. A big part of his struggles has been injuries—he hasn’t been able to fully participate in the team’s offseason workouts for his first two years, which has set him back. His position coach, Lunda Wells, says the top priority for Schoonmaker this offseason is simple: stay healthy and get on the field.
“Schoony did a nice job stepping in when Jake Ferguson was out,” Wells said. “But for him, the focus now is just getting on the grass. This will hopefully be the first time he’s fully available for OTAs, and that’s huge for his development. Toward the end of last season, he started playing the way we need—consistent, physical, and contributing in the passing game.”
Schoonmaker had a solid three-game stretch when Ferguson was injured, putting up 55, 56, and 33 yards with a touchdown on 14 catches. But when Ferguson returned, his production dipped, managing just 41 yards on five catches in his last five games.
Now in Year 3, it’s make-or-break time for Schoonmaker. If he wants to carve out a real role in the Cowboys’ offense, staying healthy and making an impact in OTAs is the first step.