Former Wisconsin tight end avoids injury in Week 1 win over Browns

Former Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson appears to have escaped serious injury in the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Ferguson, a 2023 Pro Bowl nominee, sustained a left leg injury just over six minutes before the end of the third quarter while attempting to jump over Browns linebacker Jordan Hicks.

He landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed his left knee before being led off the field and to the sidelines.

Dallas ultimately secured a 33-17 victory over Cleveland in Ohio, but Ferguson had to go to the locker room before his leg could be examined.

Fortunately, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that initial tests have shown that Ferguson did not suffer a torn ACL. X-rays were negative and the former Badger will undergo an MRI on Monday.

The talented tight end is coming off a successful 2023 season with the Cowboys, recording 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns, as well as 10 catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns in Dallas' playoff loss to Green Bay.

He is, along with star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, the first choice for the NFL's highest-paid quarterback, Dak Prescott. Unless his MRI test turns out to be disastrous, Ferguson should be a valuable resource for America's Team for the rest of the season.

Ferguson, the grandson of former UW athletic director Barry Alvarez, totaled 145 pass catches, 1,618 receiving yards (an average of 404.5 per season) and 13 touchdowns as a Badger from 2018-2021.

The story originally appeared on Badgers Wire