FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Cowboys’ tight end Rico Gathers has been suspended without pay for the first game of the 2019 regular season for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse. He will be able to fully participate in all offseason and preseason practices/games. Gathers will be eligible to return to the active roster following the team’s September 8th game against the New York Giants.
The Cowboys took a chance on Gathers, the former Baylor basketball star, and selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He did not play a snap of football in college but Dallas went out on a limb for the Bears All-Time leading rebounder after his successful pre-draft workout.
Later in September, he was released and placed on the practice squad. In January of 2017 he signed a reserve/future contract. He made the final 53-man roster that year after a solid Training Camp and preseason, but he suffered a concussion during preseason and was placed on injured reserve.
In 2018 the Cowboys kept him as a fourth tight end option and he totaled three receptions for 45 yards.
Competition at tight end increased in 2019 with Jason Witten’s return to the gridiron and Blake Jarwin coming off a standout performance in the second half of the 2018 season. Gathers has to take advantage of every opportunity to prove himself to the Cowboys’ coaching staff, and now a mark on his conduct leaves the 25-year-old with one less game to do it.
