John Stephens Jr. - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Waived from injured reserve The Cowboys waived Stephens (undisclosed) from injured reserve Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Impact Stephens tore his ACL in October of 2024 and he was again injured this preseason. The 26-year-old tight end has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL contest and will look for an opportunity elsewhere.

NOVEMBER 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Contrat reinstated, placed on IR The previously terminated contract between the Cowboys and Stephens (undisclosed) was reinstated Thursday, and he has been placed on injured reserve, Aaron reports.

Impact Stephens was initially waived by the Cowboys on Monday, but that transaction has been reversed and he'll start the regular season on injured reserve. The 25-year-old tight end will be required to miss at least the first four games of the season, which makes Week 5 against the Jets on Sunday, Oct. 5 the earliest he can play. Stephens has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game since signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in May of 2023.

AUGUST 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cut by Dallas The Cowboys waived Stephens on Monday, Joe Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Stephens appeared in just one preseason game this summer, catching three passes for 26 yards on 14 offensive snaps. Undrafted out of Louisiana last year, Stephens ended up tearing his ACL in practice last October. He'll look for an opportunity elsewhere.

AUGUST 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Participating in training camp Stephens (knee) is participating in Dallas' training camp, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Impact Stephens is practicing again after having recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in practice last October. The 2023 undrafted free agent has yet to appear in a regular-season game but will have a chance to make his debut should he earn a spot on the team's final roster.

JULY 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Shifts to IR The Cowboys placed Stephens (knee) on injured reserve Saturday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Impact Stephens is done for the 2024 season after suffering a left ACL tear in practice Wednesday. He missed the entire 2023 campaign due to an ACL tear in the same knee, a reality that leaves the 2023 UDFA out of Louisiana with a difficult road to recovery. He remains under contract with Dallas through the 2025 season.

OCTOBER 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cowboys TE John Stephens Jr. (ACL) out for season Dallas tight end John Stephens Jr.tore his left ACL in practice on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season, Cowboys coach Mike McCart...

OCTOBER 24, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Suffers ACL tear in practice Stephens (knee) sustained a torn left ACL in Wednesday's practice and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Stephens missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a torn ACL in the same knee sustained during the preseason, and he now faces another long road to recovery. The depth tight end hasn't yet suited up for a regular-season game with the Cowboys, but he remains under contract with the team through 2025.

OCTOBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Healthy scratch for Week 5 Stephens (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday night's game against Pittsburgh.

Impact Stephens missed the first three games of the regular season due to a hamstring injury, but he will be a healthy scratch for a second straight contests. His next chance at making his NFL regular-season debut will be Week 6 against the Lions on Oct. 13. Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford will be the Cowboys' three tight ends for Sunday's game.

OCTOBER 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not playing Week 4 Stephens (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Giants, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Stephens missed the first three games of the regular season due to a hamstring issue, but he appears to be healthy scratch for Thursday's contest. His next opportunity to suit up will be Week 5 against the Steelers on Oct. 6. Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford will be the Cowboys' three tight ends for Thursday's game.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Past hamstring issue Stephens (hamstring) was left off Monday's injury report, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Impact Stephens missed the Cowboys' first three contests due to a hamstring issue, but it now appears he's moved past the injury. The 25-year-old projects to serve as Dallas' fourth-string tight end, so he will likely contribute most of his value on special teams as the season progresses.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not playing Sunday Stephens (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against Baltimore.

Impact Stephens was limited in all three practices this week but he will not play Sunday, and his next chance at playing will be Thursday against the Giants. The Cowboys will roll with three tight ends Sunday in Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable to face Baltimore Stephens (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Impact Stephens was limited throughout the practice week. With Jake Ferguson due back this week, Stephens may be inactive either way. Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford are set for backup duties.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to practice Wednesday Stephens (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Nick reports.

Impact Stephens has been held out of the Cowboys' first two games of the season due to a hamstring injury. He hasn't been able to practice over the last two weeks, so his limited participation Wednesday is an upgrade and bodes well for his chances of making his NFL Sunday against the Ravens. Stephens is the Cowboys' No. 4 tight end behind Jake Ferguson (knee), Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Still sidelined Stephens (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, Joe Hoyt of AllDLLS.com reports.

Impact Stephens was unable to practice last week leading up to missing the team's Week 1 win over the Browns. His absence from practice Wednesday will have him on a trajectory to miss Sunday's game against the Saints as well, especially if he is unable to practice in any form Thursday.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Out Week 1 Stephens (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Browns, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Impact The 24-year-old tight end was unable to practice all week due to a hamstring injury, so it's no surprise that he won't suit up for the Cowboys' regular-season opener Sunday. Expect Brevyn Spann-Ford to see additional playing time in Stephens' stead.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Misses practice due to hamstring Stephens (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Stephens will have two more opportunities to return to practice, but he's in danger of missing Sunday's regular-season opener against the Browns. The 24-year-old tight end has yet to see regular-season action for the Cowboys, as he missed his entire 2023 rookie season due to a torn ACL.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Making push for No. 2 job Stephens has had a strong training camp so far and is pushing for the No. 2 spot on the Cowboys' tight end depth chart, Jon Machota and Saad Yousef of The Athletic report.

Impact Jake Ferguson is locked into the starting job, but after that the Dallas depth chart is unsettled. Luke Schoonmaker was a second-round pick in 2023 but has had trouble staying healthy to begin his career and is already battling a groin issue in camp. Peyton Hendershot (shoulder) has shown flashes as a pass-catching option but is also not 100 percent healthy. That's opened up reps for Stephens, a converted wide receiver who was an undrafted free agent in 2023 but made a good early impression last year before suffering a torn ACL in the preseason that cost him the entire campaign. Fully recovered from the knee injury, Stephens has seen reps with the first-team offense and looks capable of providing solid depth behind Ferguson.

AUGUST 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Role Call: John Stephens Jr. Brings Size & Redzone Ability John Stephens Jr. jumps off the page with his 6-foot-5, 221-pound frame, but how does that help him earn a roster spot for the 2023 season?

JULY 13, 2023 • DALLASCOWBOYS.COM

JOHN STEPHENS JR. NEWS

NEWS

BIO

STATS

VIDEOS

GAME LOG

INJURIES