Dallas Cowboys

Report: Injured Dez Bryant long shot for Sunday; Out longer?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

According to reports, Dallas Cowboys All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant is a long shot to play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers and may be sidelined even longer due to a leg injury.

Dallas Cowboys fans likely gasped in unison when All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant appeared to injury his knee early in the first quarter of the Cowboys Week Three victory over the Chicago Bears. Bryant collapsed on the field after taking an awkward hit Sunday night. But the Pro Bowl receiver returned to the field soon after a short trip to the sidelines and the locker room.

Bryant was scheduled to undergo an MRI earlier this week on the injured leg, but the exact time of the test and outcome have been a bit of a mystery…until now.

According to Dallas Morning News writer David Moore (and confirmed by DallasCowboys.com), Bryant has suffered a hairline fracture of tibial plateau, where the tibia connects to knee. Although the timetable for his recovery is unknown, Moore admitted it is a long shot Dez plays Sunday on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. And the worst case scenario is that Bryant could be sidelined until Week Eight, following their bye week.

According to Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, Bryant is officially considered day-to-day by the team and their medical staff. And he reminded us that every player heals differently.

“We’ve had players with this kind injury who missed no time in the past, and other players who have missed up to a week, two or more than that,” Garrett told the team’s official website Wednesday. “We’ll take it day-by-day and we’ll see how [Bryant] does when he comes in tomorrow – see how he feels and we’ll make our evaluations there as we go forward.”

This is devastating news for a Cowboys team with a rookie quarterback under center. Without Bryant to attract extra attention from defensive secondaries, the Cowboys receiving corps has struggled to get open in the past.

Without Bryant to line up next to, Cowboys receivers Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler and Lucky Whitehead will need to step up to replace Dez’s production. Dallas may also opt to call up undrafted rookie wide out Andy Jones from the practice squad if Dez is a no-go. And expect a heavy dose of tight end Jason Witten on Sunday against the 49ers. Without Bryant on the field, young quarterback Dak Prescott may look to Witten as his security blanket.