It's on to 2018 for Rico Gathers.

The second-year tight end entered training camp for the Dallas Cowboys with high expectations from both himself and the team, and his preseason dominance only served to pour jet fuel on an already-kindled flame. He was only able to deliver two games in August before becoming the victim of a vicious -- yet accidental -- blow in practice from safety Kavon Frazier. The 6-foot-8, 284 lb. tight end has yet to see the field since, relegated to the Cowboys' injured reserve list.

And that's where he'll stay, according to Executive Vice President Stephen Jones -- who made it clear on 105.3FM the Fan that Gathers has missed so much time already, bringing him back would be counterproductive.

“Probably the best thing for him is to start fresh in the offseason,” said Jones.

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That's a valid point, considering it is now Week 13 and there have been no signs of Gathers on the field. His eligibility to return to practice was effective after Week 6, followed by game eligibility after Week 8. The Cowboys hold firm he's "progressing" in his rehabilitation, but it's clear the initial injury was/is much more grievous than originally thought.

The team has a lot invested in converting the former Baylor hoops' star to the gridiron, redshirting him to the practice squad in 2016 while paying him a hefty $449,990 in salary. For perspective, NFL practice squad players can earn a minimum of $6,900 per week, or roughly $117,300 for the year. That doesn't include the playoffs, for which the player can earn additional weeks' compensation.

Simply put, Gathers was paid just $10 short of what the 53rd man would make on the active roster.

He flashed his potential in his only two preseason games, reeling in 106 yards receiving and two touchdowns before being sidelined. In the process, the NFL found out Gathers is virtually unstoppable when he's in the game -- making him that much more valuable to the Cowboys in the long-term.

Much too valuable to rush back from what looks to be a major injury.

That, combined with the fact the team has already promoted rookie Blake Jarwin to the active roster to save him from the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles, put the Cowboys in a position to assess the situation on Gathers carefully and make the right decision. And by the tone of Jerry Jones' words after the team defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, it doesn't sound like he's feeling good about the prospect of Gathers returning before next season.

"Yeah, he’s missed a lot of time and that’s all I can say," owner Jerry Jones solemnly noted recently, via Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News.

Gathers was shut down in August for good reason, and it's that same reasoning which could leave him on ice going forward. With Witten playing at a high level and the combination of a healthy James Hanna and Geoff Swaim, the team isn't pressed to force their hand with their young potential star.

After all, there's always 2018 -- which is also the final year of both Hanna and Swaim's contracts. The Cowboys love Gathers and Jarwin so, depending on how the chips fall, we could all soon see a near-complete changing of the guard at the TE position.

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