Cowboys tight end Princeton Fant will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering a serious knee injury during practice on Monday, as seen in a trending post on r/nfl. The injury occurred during the team's first padded practice of the season.
Why it matters: Fant's injury is a major setback for the Cowboys, impacting their tight end depth. The team must now rely more heavily on other players at the position.
Fant suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a partial tear of his medial collateral ligament (MCL).
This injury is the first season-ending injury for the Cowboys during the 2026 training camp.
With Fant out, the Cowboys will need to redistribute his playing time among other tight ends.
Driving the news: The injury occurred when Fant was blocked backward into running back Israel Abanikanda during a team drill. He was carted off the field after being unable to put weight on his left leg.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the severity of the injury, stating that Fant will undergo surgery in the coming weeks.
Schottenheimer expressed disappointment for Fant, noting the hard work he has put into his career.
“I told him, 'Hey look, your story's far from over,'” Schottenheimer said.
State of play: Fant entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2023 and has spent three seasons with the Cowboys, primarily contributing on special teams.
He has played in 11 games but has yet to catch a regular-season pass, highlighting his role as a blocker.
With Fant's absence, the Cowboys' tight end room now includes Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Michael Trigg, and DJ Rogers.
Ferguson and Schoonmaker are expected to take on larger roles in the offense.
The big picture: Fant's injury affects the team's immediate plans and raises questions about the depth and versatility of the tight end position moving forward.
His injury could accelerate the development of UDFAs Trigg and Rogers, who may see increased reps in practice and games.
The Cowboys will need to adapt their offensive strategies to accommodate the changes in personnel.
Fant previously dealt with a similar injury during high school, which caused him to miss most of his junior and senior seasons.
What they're saying: Schottenheimer's comments reveal the emotional impact of the injury on both the player and the team.
“Really disappointed for him, for everything that he's put into this,” Schottenheimer said.
He emphasized the importance of supporting Fant during his recovery process.
Fans and analysts have expressed concern over how this injury might affect the Cowboys' tight end depth.
By the numbers: Fant's career statistics highlight his limited involvement in the passing game.
In his three seasons with the Cowboys, he has appeared in 11 games but has not recorded any receptions.
His primary contributions have been on special teams, where he has demonstrated blocking skills.
The Cowboys' tight end group now features five players competing for playing time.
What's next: Following his surgery, Fant will begin a lengthy rehabilitation process.
His status will be monitored closely as he works toward a return in the future.
The Cowboys will need to finalize their roster decisions ahead of the upcoming preseason games.
Dallas is set to open its preseason against the Seattle Seahawks on August 15, 2026.
The Cowboys will face challenges in adapting to Fant's absence, but they remain hopeful for his future recovery and contributions.
This article is grounded in a discussion trending on Reddit. Claims from the original post and comments may not reflect independently verified reporting.