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Tight End Depth Takes Severe Hit On First Day
Mickey Spagnola

What's The Scoop:
For a team planning to run a two-tight end offense, the last thing it needs is to lose any depth at the position. And that's exactly what happened to the Cowboys the first day of training camp, when backup tight end and special teams player Brett Pierce suffered a season-ending - and possibly career-ending - torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Incredibly, the tear was to the ACL doctors reconstructed last year after he suffered the same injury to the same knee against Detroit on Nov. 20. Pierce underwent reconstructive surgery Dec. 16 and was cleared to take part in the team's early-June mini-camp after spending the off-season rehabilitating.

This marks the third time Pierce has torn the ACL in his left knee. The original tear to his own ACL occurred his junior year in college. His career could be in jeopardy.

"It's unfortunate because he was working very hard to get back," Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said of Pierce, who will be placed on injured reserve.

Pierce was expected to battle for the fourth tight end spot with Sean Ryan and Tony Curtis. There is a good chance the Cowboys will keep at least four tight ends, and possibly five, which could include fullback Lousaka Polite, who is working as an all-purpose player. The top three would seem set with Jason Witten, second-round pick Anthony Fasano and veteran free-agent Ryan Hannam.

The Cowboys might miss Pierce's special teams contributions more than those at tight end. The third-year tight end from Stanford was fourth on the team with eight special teams tackles last year before suffering his season-ending injury on kickoff coverage in the season's 10th game.

For at least the sake of numbers, the Cowboys will look at bringing another tight end into training camp once Pierce is officially placed on injured reserve. But as Parcells said, "I don't know, there's not too many guys available at this time."