Dallas Cowboys Label Dez Bryant As Doubtful For Bills Game
By Shawn S. Lealos
The Dallas Cowboys are giving Kellen Moore two weeks at the end of the 2015 NFL season to prove what he can do. They also claimed that they would not rest Dez Bryant to end the season. However, heading into the game with the Buffalo Bills, it looks like Moore might have to prove himself without Bryant and might also be without Cole Beasley.
The biggest injury news heading into the game against the Buffalo Bills is that Dez Bryant is considered doubtful. This is shocking, since the Cowboys said that he would keep playing until the end of the season. He missed the entire week of practice and the continued pain in his surgically repaired foot and sore ankle might make it impossible for him to finish the season. To make matters worse, the two best targets for a young quarterback on the Cowboys team are also listed on the injury report.
Cole Beasley is listed as questionable with a hurt foot, as well as an illness. Heading into the Bills' game, Beasley is only 50-50 to make the game and has missed two practices in the last three games. Listed as probable is Jason Witten with his chest injury. While Beasley might miss the game, Witten should play as he has one of the longest active games played streaks in the NFL.
Rolando McClain missed last week's game thanks to a concussion, but he came back to practice this week and passed the NFL concussion protocol tests. McClain is listed as probable and should be back on the field this week. Also listed as probable for the Cowboys defense is Jeff Heath with a shoulder injury and DeMarcus Lawrence with a chest injury. Morris Claiborne missed last week's game with a hamstring injury, leaving rookie Byron Jones to his first test as a starting cornerback. It looks like Claiborne will miss another week and Jones can continue to work on his skills at cornerback.
There are two players this week listed as out. Tony Romo is still not on the injured reserve list, and with only two games left, placing him there now wouldn't really make a difference. Moore will continue to start in his place. Also out this week is tight end Gavin Escobar with an Achilles injury. That should keep him out the last two games as well, with James Hanna getting his playing time.
Probable:
Jeff Heath, SS (shoulder)
Chris Jones, P (knee)
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE (chest)
Rolando McClain, MLB (concussion)
Jason Witten, TE (chest)
Questionable:
Cole Beasley, WR (foot, illness)
Morris Claiborne, CB (hamstring)
Kyle Wilber, OLB (shoulder)
Doubtful:
Dez Bryant, WR (foot)
Out:
Gavin Escobar, TE (Achilles)
Tony Romo, QB (shoulder)
Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos. Examiner.com.