Dez Says He Can Return At Less Than 100 Percent
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DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) - Dez Bryant tells me that while the healing broken bone in his foot is not yet 100 percent, he doesn't need it to be in order for him to return to the field.
"I don't honestly think that it has to be all the way 100 percent for me to get back on the field," Dez told me after Dallas' 27-20 loss Sunday at the Giants. "That's my choice, we're going to see about it. If I can go, I'm going to go."
That seems equal parts valiant and foolish, and Bryant has for weeks vowed to be neither. Maybe the gravity of Dallas' situation is in play here; the Cowboys have now lost four straight with Bryant and QB Tony Romo sidelined.
Or maybe Bryant is close enough to 100 percent to feel confident about a return next week against visiting Seattle.
"By all measures, he has a really good chance to play (next)week," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.
The All-Pro receiver was extremely active in his own personal 30-minute pregame warmup at MetLife Stadium, doing everything from sprinting to catch passes to vaulting over a sideline fence. Today marks the six-week point from surgery to repair the break (sustained in a Week 1 win over these same Giants). The Cowboys have always maintained that six weeks could allow full healing and that Dez was likely to return to the field in eight weeks or fewer.
"Next goal is to get on the field," Bryant said. "I got to continue listening to Mr. Jones and (trainers Jim Maurer and Britt Brown). I think we're doing a hell of a job right now with my foot.
"I think I'm the only one that's being a little bit impatient about the foot. They're really doing a great job of trying to make sure I'm doing the right things properly. I think once I feel good I'm going to get on the field."
The Cowboys will obviously be buoyed by his return. But there is risk of a re-break if he's less than 100 percent … and such an occurrence would further suck the life from the struggling team.
"We're still strong,'' Dez told me … and hopefully his foot is, too.
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