The Dallas Cowboys have suffered another major injury setback, as tight end Jake Ferguson has officially been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with an ankle injury.

Ferguson exited during Dallas’ opening offensive possession and was initially listed as questionable to return. However, the Cowboys have now confirmed that he will not return, forcing the offense to move forward without one of its key contributors in the passing game.

The injury is particularly concerning for Dallas because Ferguson plays an important role as a reliable target for quarterback Dak Prescott. His ability to work over the middle, find openings in coverage, and contribute in the red zone makes him a valuable piece of the Cowboys’ offensive attack.

Dallas also entered the game without tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who was inactive. With Ferguson now ruled out, Brevyn Spann-Ford and James Mitchell are the team’s available healthy tight ends, leaving the Cowboys with fewer options at the position.

For Prescott and the Dallas offense, the challenge will be finding ways to adjust without Ferguson’s presence. The team may need to rely more heavily on its wide receivers and running backs to help fill the void.

As for Ferguson, the full severity of his ankle injury and any potential recovery timeline remain unclear. Being ruled out for the rest of Sunday’s game does not automatically mean he will miss additional time.

It’s another frustrating development for the Cowboys, who will hope Ferguson’s injury isn’t serious and that their starting tight end can return to the field soon.