DSJ Quick Take: Cowboys Claim Tight End Zack Kuntz Off Waivers
The Dallas Cowboys claimed tight end Zack Kuntz off waivers from the Raiders on Thursday, filling the roster spot left by Princeton Fant’s season-ending knee injury.
- Who did Dallas add? Zack Kuntz, a 2023 seventh-round pick of the Jets who has appeared in 2 NFL games.
- Why the move now? Fant tore his ACL and partially tore his MCL and will miss the season.
- What is Kuntz’s background? He caught 73 passes for 692 yards and 5 touchdowns at Old Dominion in 2021, and spent time with the Dolphins and Raiders this year.
- Who’s ahead of him? Two-time Pro Bowler Jake Ferguson, coming off 600 receiving yards and 8 receiving touchdowns.
OXNARD, Calif. — After losing tight end Princeton Fant for the season due to a torn ACL and partially torn MCL, the Dallas Cowboys appear to have made an addition at the position.
According to the NFL’s daily transaction report, the team has claimed tight end Zack Kuntz off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders.
What Zack Kuntz Brings to Dallas
Having another body at the position certainly helps, even though Kuntz has limited experience at the NFL level. Originally a seventh-round pick to the New York Jets in 2023, he appeared in just 2 games for New York across two seasons before they moved on from him.
Earlier this year, he signed a futures contract with the Miami Dolphins but didn’t stick. He then signed with the Raiders in late July before being waived this week.
There are no guarantees that the 27-year-old will stick around with the Cowboys, but he’s clearly getting a look. In college, Kuntz showed some promise, particularly in 2021 at Old Dominion, when he caught 73 passes for 692 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The Cowboys’ Tight End Room
The loss of Fant for the season may not impact Dallas’ overall outlook too much this season, since he appeared in just one game last season and has made 11 appearances in three years with the Cowboys, but losing him means losing a guy who has familiarity with the system in Dallas.
The Cowboys do have several other tight ends currently rostered, including trusty two-time Pro Bowler Jake Ferguson, who had 600 receiving yards and 8 receiving touchdowns last season. He is sure to do a lot of the heavy lifting at the tight end spot this coming season regardless of what the rest of the position room looks like.
Kuntz will be a player to watch as training camp continues as he looks to take advantage of his latest opportunity at the NFL level.
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