Injury Report: Dallas Cowboys Still Waiting on Dez Bryant Return
By Shawn S. Lealos
Ever since Tony Romo and Dez Bryant went down with injury, the Dallas Cowboys have struggled and lost three straight games. While Romo won't return until Thanksgiving, Bryant is almost ready to make his return. Bryant, who broke his foot in the first game of the season, has received new shoes from Nike that will help protect his foot when he makes his return; but it likely won't happen this weekend against the New York Giants. Bryant, who had a chance to make his return, still hasn't practiced with the team on the field and the Cowboys listed him as doubtful in this weekend's injury report.
While the Cowboys' emotional leader won't make his return, a lesser known name will be coming back in Brice Butler. His return is just in time for new starting quarterback Matt Cassel to have a new target in the passing game. Cassel replaces Brandon Weeden until Tony Romo makes his return, and the hope is that Cassel will be able to make downfield passes that Weeden couldn't make. The only big play by a wide receiver since Romo went down was a huge catch by newcomer Brice Butler, who then injured his hamstring on the catch. Butler will add to Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley in the starting receiver lineup.
James Hanna might miss another game, as he is listed as questionable with his ankle injury. That leaves Jason Witten and Gavin Escobar as the two healthy tight ends. The problem here is that Hanna has been the best blocking tight end over the last two seasons, and without him in the lineup, the Cowboys running attack has been missing something. Christine Michael will get more carries this weekend, and as a stronger running back, Dallas hopes to move the ball despite Hanna still possibly sitting out.
On the defensive side, leading pass rusher Greg Hardy is listed as probable with an illness, two weeks after making his debut with two sacks and five knockdowns of Tom Brady. Also ready to make his return is rookie defensive end Randy Gregory. The big time pass rushing rookie injured his ankle in the Cowboys' opening game against the New York Giants and will make his return from that injury against the same Giants team. It is time to see what Gregory will bring to the team thanks to Hardy taking a lot of the pressure off of his shoulders.
The Dallas Cowboys are finally starting to get back to full health, but until Tony Romo returns, they will be missing something. Matt Cassel is a stop gap and the Cowboys will get Bryant back likely by next weekend's Seattle Seahawks game, but they need to get their running game under control. With the offensive line almost at full strength, outside of tight end James Hanna, that starts this weekend.
Probable:
Randy Gregory, DE (ankle)
Brice Butler, WR (hamstring)
Greg Hardy, DE (illness)
David Irving, DE (back)
Danny McCray, S (not injury related)
Questionable:
James Hanna, TE (ankle)
Questionable:
Dez Bryant, WR (foot)
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.