The Cowboys saw tight ends Jason Witten and James Hanna retire this offseason. It leaves a hole at the position even with their selection of Dalton Schultz in the fourth round.

Rico Gathers Joe Mixon Jersey , who did not play a regular-season game in his first two seasons, acknowledges the opportunity.

He spent his rookie season on the practice squad after playing college basketball, and a concussion kept Gathers on injured reserve last season.

“The biggest thing for me this year is just making it to the regular season,” Gathers said. “I have to make sure I’m healthy and make sure I’m able to be on somebody’s 53-man roster.”

The Cowboys took a flyer on Gathers in 2016, using a sixth-round pick on him. He showed signs of development during the 2017 preseason by catching seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the first two preseason games.

But Gathers took a helmet-to-helmet hit from defensive back Kavon Frazier during an August 15 practice, and the concussion ended Gathers’ season before it began.

He was cleared from concussion protocol before Week 7, but the Cowboys elected not to use one of their short-term injured reserve designations on Gathers.

“They finally gave me the clear to start back working out normal and going back into the meetings and stuff,” Gathers said. “For the most part Nyheim Hines Jersey , I was excited after getting cleared, but the people above had bigger expectations for me rather than me coming in and practicing and getting back on the field.

“Really they didn’t tell me anything. But I could just tell by the drift of the season and the drift of the coaching staff that I probably wasn’t going to play last year anyway. I just look forward to getting back on the field this year.”

Gathers is confident he could have helped last season. He’s more confident he will help this season with Witten and Hanna gone. He is competing with Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, Schultz and undrafted rookie David Wells likely for three roster spots.

Gathers has worked hard on his blocking, seeking to become an all-around tight end.

“It was agonizing [not playing last season], because I felt like I had finally got into a rhythm of what I wanted to do, and I think they saw that,” Gathers said. “It was tough to deal with Denzelle Good Jersey , especially because in some of the games I felt like we needed a scoring punch and I felt like that was what I brought to the table. But playing for the Cowboys is bigger than being able to score touchdowns. You have to block and everything else.”

The Detroit Tigers will go for their fourth victory in a row Saturday afternoon when they face the Chicago White Sox in the second game of a three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

Detroit (34-37) would match a season high if it is able to extend its winning streak. The Tigers have won five of their last eight games and 14 of their last 23, and the mood is light despite the recent loss of star slugger Miguel Cabrera.

Of course, it helps that the Tigers feel comfortable playing against the White Sox. Detroit has won its past four games on Chicago’s South Side, and it is 8-2 in its past 10 games overall against the White Sox dating back to last season.

Chicago (24-44) has dropped back-to-back games and is looking to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the month. The White Sox have won or split each of their past four series and have posted an 8-7 record in June.

White Sox manager Rick Renteria said he is proud of his players and their refusal to get down on themselves.

“They continue to play,” Renteria said. “They’re grinding. They’re doing everything they can to put themselves in a good position to do what they need to do individually, and collectively, they continue to come together.

“It’s one of those things where you learn a lot about yourself when you’re going bad, and it’s surviving that little tumble that’s going to share with you what the character is of these guys. I think they’re showing up and playing every day and competing and trying to do the best they can to win a ballgame.”

Tensions briefly flared in Friday’s series opener when Tigers right-hander Mike Fiers hit Tim Anderson in the back with a pitch. It was the first pitch after Fiers allowed a three-run home run to Omar Narvaez to tie the score.

Tempers quickly cooled C.J. Uzomah Jersey , and the Tigers eventually pulled ahead for a 4-3 win.

“The confidence is always going to be high, the mood is always going to be great whether we win, lose or draw,” Anderson told reporters before the game. “We’ve got a great group of guys.”

White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (4-7, 7.09 ERA) will make his 14th start as he attempts to turn around a difficult start to the season. Giolito walked four batters and allowed four runs in five inning a 4-0 loss in his most recent outing Monday against Cleveland.

In two career starts against Detroit, Giolito is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA. He has walked six and fanned eight in 12 2/3 innings. One of those starts took place this season, when he allowed four hits and five runs in 5 2/3 inning in a 6-1 loss to the Tigers on April 7.

The Tigers will counter with right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (2-0, 4.88 ERA) John Kelly Jersey , who is expected to come off the disabled list for his first appearance since May 5. Zimmermann has been sidelined by a right shoulder injury.

In nine career starts against Chicago, Zimmermann has posted a 5-2 record with a 5.73 ERA. The 32-year-old has walked 12 and struck out 30 in 48 2/3 innings.

Zimmermann faced the White Sox on April 5 this season, allowing nine hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings in a game the Tigers won 9-7.

Victor Martinez will try to stay hot for the Tigers. He has reached base safely in eight of his last nine contests against the White Sox, and he is batting .346 (9-for-26) with two doubles and six RBIs during that span.

White Sox outfielder Charlie Tilson carries a six-game hitting streak into the game.

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