What happened: The Dallas Cowboys announced tight end Jake Ferguson as the team's nominee for the 2026 NFL Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. The annual leaguewide honor recognizes players, coaches, and staff who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to military members, veterans, and their families. Fan voting opened Thursday to help determine finalists for the award.

Why it matters: The nomination marks notable off-field recognition for Jake Ferguson, who was drafted 129th overall in 2022 and has stepped into a primary offensive role. Dallas looks to regroup following a 33-30 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 1.

What to watch: Ferguson's availability will be monitored leading into the weekend after an ankle injury sidelined him from Wednesday's practice session.