Blake Jarwin

NFL Workout Rumors: Dolphins QBs, Jarwin

The Dolphins hosted a workout today including some interesting free agent names, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The tryout included quarterbacks Kyle Lauletta and Jack Coan and wide receivers Isaiah Coulter and Tarik Black.

Lauletta was a fourth-round draft pick for the Giants back in 2018. He spent one season in New York as Eli Manning‘s backup and, in his lone NFL appearance, threw five incompletions including an interception. Lauletta spent the next few seasons on offseason and practice squad rosters for the Eagles, Falcons, Browns (twice), and Jaguars. Most recently, Lauletta was the seventh overall pick in the 2022 USFL Draft, going to the Pittsburgh Maulers where he would start two games for one of the league’s worst teams. On a team that started four different quarterbacks over the year, Lauletta completed 31 of 63 pass attempts for 269 yards, adding 18 rushing yards on three carries. He was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Generals but, with the USFL season over, he is available to audition for NFL teams.

Coan signed with the Colts as an undrafted rookie this past offseason after a strong collegiate career at Wisconsin and Notre Dame. He failed to make the Colts initial 53-man roster, getting waived in final roster cuts. He has since been drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas in the 2023 XFL Draft. The audition of multiple quarterbacks has some underlying concern as starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa deals with more concussion issues.

Coulter is a former fifth-round pick by the Texans out of Rhode Island in 2020. He spent the first half of his rookie season on injured reserve and was eventually waived before the 2021 season. Coulter would sign with the Bears, remaining a presence on the team’s practice squad from then until November 1 of this season. He would rebound again after being released, signing to the Bills practice squad before getting released once again earlier this month.

Black went undrafted in 2021 after a shortened senior year at Texas. Black had transferred to Austin after three years at Michigan where he had to compete for targets with Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones. Unfortunately for Black, a worldwide pandemic would lead to a shortened 2020 season, giving him only six games of production as a Longhorn. Black signed as an undrafted free agent with the Colts and started the season on their practice squad. After getting released midseason, Black would eventually join the Jets on the practice squad. He was called up last year for a game against the Bills, in which he would secure his first NFL catch.

Here is another workout rumor concerning a former Cowboys backup tight end trying out for a division rival:

  • Earlier this week, free agent tight end Blake Jarwin auditioned with the Eagles, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Jarwin signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and, after retirements by Jason Witten and James Hanna the following year, became the primary backup to Geoff Swaim. Jarwin ran with the opportunity, leading the team’s tight ends in receiving yards that season and serving as Witten’s primary backup when the veteran unretired in 2019. The Cowboys signed Jarwin to a three-year, $24.25MM deal with the intention to start him following Witten’s re-retirement, but ACL surgery after the season opener would end his season after only one game. After missing much of last season, as well, due to hip injuries, Jarwin was released. This is Jarwin’s first sniff of free agency since being released. The Eagles have some depth and youth at tight end behind starter Dallas Goedert with second year tight ends Jack Stoll and Tyree Jackson (currently on IR) and rookie sixth-round pick Grant Calcaterra. If Jarwin can get back to his 2018-19 form, he could provide an upgrade over the receiving numbers Stoll and Calcaterra have put up so far this season.

Cowboys Cut Greg Zuerlein, Blake Jarwin

The Cowboys continue to make cost-cutting moves. They are saying goodbye to their kicker and one of their tight ends, releasing Greg Zuerlein and waiving Blake Jarwin with an injury designation. The team announced the moves.

One year remained on Zuerlein’s $7.5MM deal; this move will create just more than $2MM in cap space for the Cowboys. Jarwin is eligible for injury protection, but cutting him will add a bit to Dallas’ cap space as well. The Cowboys waived Jarwin with an injury designation.

Jarwin, who signed an extension to stay in Dallas in 2020, underwent a hip surgery that has his 2022 availability in question. The six-year veteran has missed 24 games since signing that four-year, $22MM deal. Jarwin tore an ACL in September 2020 and encountered this hip trouble last season. During that span, Dalton Schultz has taken over as the Cowboys’ primary tight end. The Cowboys franchise-tagged Schultz this week.

Zuerlein, 34, has managed to stick around in the NFL for 10 seasons, coming into the league from a Division II school and playing eight years with the Rams. He struggled in 2021, missing a career-high six extra points. While the strong-legged specialist will likely have another opportunity, he will need to find a third NFL team to continue his career.

Latest On Cowboys’ TE Situation

Blake Jarwin did well to capitalize on his free agency, signing a four-year deal worth $22MM to stay a Cowboy in 2020. Injuries have since disrupted the veteran tight end’s career. His latest could be a career-threatening setback.

Jarwin recently underwent a hip surgery that has his status for the 2022 season in doubt, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken, who adds this operation is considered uncommon for NFL players (Twitter link). Jarwin is not expected to be ready by the start of next season. This should point the Cowboys toward prioritizing free agent-to-be Dalton Schultz.

Indeed, Schultz is in Dallas’ plans, with Gehlken adding (via Twitter) the team is interested in retaining the breakthrough pass catcher. Schultz, who caught 78 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns, is expected to generate significant free agency interest. This could make him a tag candidate. The tight end tag is expected to come in at nearly $11MM. This would be a huge bump for Schultz, who totaled the most receiving yards by a Cowboys tight end since Jason Witten‘s 2013 season.

The PUP list or a release reside as Cowboys options for Jarwin, who has two years remaining on his deal. Jarwin would be due injury protection if cut, with Gehlken adding that would mean the Cowboys paying $2MM of his $4.5MM 2022 salary. Jarwin, 27, suffered a torn ACL in September 2020 and then encountered his hip problem in November of last year.

Schultz, 25, arrived in Dallas as a 2018 fourth-round pick. By making it to free agency, he would join a host of starting tight ends on this year’s market. Rob Gronkowski, Zach Ertz, Mike Gesicki David Njoku, C.J. Uzomah and O.J. Howard are among the unattached tight ends this year.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/8/22

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Cowboys Activate Blake Jarwin From IR

SATURDAY: Jarwin will make his return against the Eagles. The Cowboys activated the veteran tight end off IR. Jarwin has not played since Week 8.

TUESDAY: The Cowboys designated Blake Jarwin for return from the injured reserve list (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). With that, the tight end will return to practice today with an eye on returning for the playoffs. 

Thanks to a nagging hip injury, Jarwin hasn’t played since Halloween. Before that, he ranked among the better run-blocking tight ends, per Pro Football Focus. The Cowboys have been getting by with ex-Washington cog Jeremy Sprinkle and second-year UDFA Sean McKeon, but Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard will be glad to have Jarwin back in the fold.

The Cowboys re-upped Jarwin on a three-year, $24.25MM extension in March of 2020, so he remains under contract through 2023. Now, the Cowboys are just hoping that he can stay healthy and reprise his career 2019. That year, he reeled in 31 catches for 365 yards (both career bests) plus three receiving touchdowns.

There’s no word on Jarwin’s availability for Week 18, but it’s unlikely that they’ll rush him on to the field for the season finale. At 11-5, the Cowboys have already sealed their playoff berth and clinched the NFC East.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/22

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears 

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/26/21

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Cowboys Place TE Blake Jarwin On IR

The Cowboys will be shorthanded at tight end during their next stretch of games. They moved Blake Jarwin to IR on Saturday, sidelining the veteran for at least three games.

Jarwin is battling a hip injury and did not practice this week. The Cowboys have used Jarwin as a steady presence at the position, teaming him with Dalton Schultz and giving the resurgent squad one of the NFL’s better tight end tandems.

Although Dallas re-signed Jarwin to a four-year, $22MM deal at the outset of the 2020 free agency period, the ACL tear he sustained in September of last year set him back. Schultz, whose contract expires at season’s end, has taken over as Dallas’ top receiving tight end. Jarwin has still played 50% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps and has 10 receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns this season. Jarwin’s latest injury is not expected to end his season, per the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken (on Twitter).

Both Schultz and Jarwin rank among the better run-blocking tight ends, per Pro Football Focus, this season. The team also has ex-Washington cog Jeremy Sprinkle and second-year UDFA Sean McKeon at the position.

In addition, the NFC East leaders went another week without activating Michael Gallup from IR. The Cowboys have until Nov. 15 to activate Gallup, having opened his return window nearly two weeks ago. Gallup has been out since going down with a calf injury in Week 1. The Cowboys also promoted defensive tackle Justin Hamilton and activated linebacker Francis Bernard from IR.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/15/20

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Cowboys’ Blake Jarwin Done For Year

As expected, Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin has been diagnosed with an ACL tear (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). On the plus side, the MRI showed a “clean tear” for the 26-year-old with no other major issues in his right knee.

[RELATED: Cowboys Place LVE On IR]

The Cowboys re-upped Jarwin on a three-year, $24.25MM extension back in March so he won’t have to worry about marketing himself to teams after a lost season. In 2019, Jarwin reeled in 31 catches for 365 yards (both career highs) and three touchdowns. Between ’18 and ’19, Jarwin has totaled 58 receptions for 678 receiving yards and six scores.

With Jason Witten out of the picture, the Cowboys are left thin at the position. Blake Bell, a blocking tight end who signed a cheap deal back in March, and 2018 fourth-rounder Dalton Schultz are the next two guys up. Neither has topped 186 yards in their respective pro careers.

It stands to reason that the Cowboys will explore some of the available out-of-house options that remain on the market. Delanie Walker, a 36-year-old vet with ample experience, headlines the current crop of free agent TEs. Other available notables include Charles Clay and Clive Walford.