The Dallas Cowboys opened Week 15 with an unexpected concern at a key offensive spot, as tight end Jake Ferguson appeared on the injury report with a new calf issue. He and CeeDee Lamb, who remains in concussion protocol, were both limited on Wednesday, raising early questions about the unit’s readiness. Still, signs are already trending in the right direction.

“Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson was working with Britt Brown today during a portion of practice open to the media,” posted Cowboys reporter Joseph Hoyt on X.

On Thursday, Cowboys beat reporter Joseph Hoyt captured a moment during the media portion of practice that signaled ongoing rehabilitation. Hoyt noted that Ferguson was actively working with assistant strength coach Britt Brown, specifically using resistance cords.

The tight end, who sustained a calf injury during the Week 14 Thursday Night Football game against the Lions, appears on track to be available for the pivotal Sunday Night Football clash with the Vikings. Seeing Jake Ferguson practice suggests his injury isn’t severe, but the team still hasn’t officially cleared him for the upcoming Week 15 game. There’s a chance the Cowboys might decide to keep him out as a precaution, simply to manage how much he plays.

However, having Ferguson on the field is very important for the Cowboys against the Vikings for them to play a home match against their division rival, the Eagles. This season, his receiving stats have been 90 Targets with 75 Receptions in 554 Yards, completing 7 Touchdowns. 

He is still considered one of the most reliable and effective players at his position. This is especially true because the Vikings’ defense has consistently struggled when defending against tight ends. Plus, the connection between Ferguson and the team’s quarterback, Dak Prescott, has been a major strength for the team so far this season.

The Cowboys need to put in some work before their week 15 game against the Vikings

The Dallas Cowboys recently suffered a major setback, which severely hurt their chances of reaching the playoffs. This happened after they were handed a substantial 44-30 loss by the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, ending their three-game winning streak. Following this discouraging defeat, one prediction model showed the Cowboys’ playoff probability plummeting from 19% all the way down to a very low 6%. 

Despite the bad news, quarterback Dak Prescott emphasized that the locker room was not giving up, stating that the team was “pissed off” and planned to use the Thursday night loss as motivation for their final games.

“I think guys are pissed off right now. I don’t think this is any deflated moment like, ‘Oh, hands are up, we’re done.’ No, no, absolutely not. I think you’re going to get a team that’s pissed, especially as we talk about a team that’s kind of changed since the bye week,”  he said.

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However, the team’s playoff situation quickly changed for the better, thanks to a key result in another game. The Cowboys received a massive boost after the Philadelphia Eagles lost their game to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. This unexpected outcome caused the Cowboys’ playoff hopes to suddenly climb dramatically to 54%. This meant that even after their embarrassing loss, they were back in a realistic position to make the postseason.

This high 54% chance, however, comes with a major catch: the Cowboys must win every single one of their four remaining games. The team is in a “win-or-lose” situation, meaning they cannot afford any more mistakes. If the Cowboys lose even one of these four games, their playoff odds will drop sharply back down to a miserable 9%, effectively ending their realistic hopes.

Fortunately for Dallas, its path to winning out is manageable. Their four-game remaining schedule consists mostly of opponents with losing records. They host the 5-8 Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, followed by their toughest test against the 9-4 Chargers. They then finish their season on the road against two struggling teams: the 3-10 Washington Commanders and the 2-11 New York Giants. 

With three of their four opponents having poor records, winning all four games is a very real possibility, but they must execute perfectly to secure their spot.