Two hand specialists have said that Dez Bryant needs surgery to repair his broken left index finger, but it appears the Cowboys wide receiver will postpone a procedure until after the season.
Bryant said Thursday that he is playing Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has practiced and caught passes with a modified receivers glove.
There is risk involved with playing through the injury, however. Bryant could face permanent damage, which could include flexibility issues.
On Friday, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones assured that the franchise would not do something that could negatively affect the 24-year-old's future.
"We sure wouldn't do anything if we really felt like it was going to compromise his long term career," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. "Dez has got a bright career in front of him. He's obviously growing from a maturity point right before everybody's eyes. He's understanding the game better and playing well on the field.
"At the end of the day, we wouldn't do anything to compromise his health for the future. He does have a broken finger and has already done some (damage) when he broke it. It'll be a challenge probably in terms of the flexibility of the finger probably for the rest of his life. But I think he'll still be able to use it in a way that he can be successful on the field and, of course, use it everyday as well."
