After originally giving Peyton Hendershot no gameday designation for an NFC showdown at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, the Cowboys later changed the second-year tight end’s status to questionable.
Whether or not the 24-year-old is activated to the 53-man roster in time to face the Seahawks, a decision will need to be made soon on the remainder of his 2023 season.
Hendershot has been on injured reserve due to an ankle injury he suffered in practice on Sept. 29. After his 21-day activation window was opened on Nov. 15, the Indiana native reported that he felt “fresh” and was “eager to move around on the practice field again.”
Officially, Peyton Hendershot is listed as questionable for Thursday's game vs. Seattle as he comes back from an ankle injury. Still no word on if he will be activated off injured reserve to play.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) November 29, 2023
But now the Cowboys are nearing the end of his practice window. If Hendershot is not moved back to the active roster- which will necessitate someone else losing their spot- the Cowboys will be forced to place him back on injured reserve, this time officially ending his season.
The 6-foot-4-inch Hendershot has just one catch on two targets for three yards thus far this season. He dropped a sure touchdown pass in Week 1 and was stuffed on a goal-line rush in Week 2.
In his absence, fellow tight end Jake Ferguson has tallied the second-most receptions of all Cowboys players this season, for a third-best yardage total and four touchdowns, tied with Brandin Cooks and trailing only CeeDee Lamb.
Rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker has played over a third of the team’s offensive snaps; Sean McKeon has been on the field for nearly 100 snaps over the eight games that Hendershot has missed.