Dez Bryant could return to the field this Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants, team owner Jerry Jones told Dallas' 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday morning.
Bryant hasn't played since fracturing a bone in his right foot during Dallas' Week 1 game against the Giants. He had surgery on his foot last month and has been doing some on-field rehab work the past few days. The team will observe if Bryant is comfortable making cuts on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Jones. However, Bryant is still just five weeks post a procedure that was supposed to keep him out 6-8 weeks.
Jones' statement comes just one day after NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported that Bryant is unlikely to suit up this Sunday and that he might not even return to the practice field until next week.
Prior to this injury, the 26-year-old Bryant hadn't missed a game since 2011, despite suffering various injuries. Last season he caught 88 balls for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns, all team highs.
Bryant's return would be a welcomed one for a Cowboys team that has dropped three games in a row after starting the season 2-0. In his stead, Dallas has been forced to rely on tight end Jason Witten (30 catches, 271 yards, two touchdowns) and wide receiver Terrance Williams, who's caught just 14 of the 31 balls thrown his way for a total of 223 yards.
Bryant's injury, coupled with Tony Romo's broken collarbone, has derailed the Cowboys' offense this season:
From stat guru @doug_clawson: Since Dez Bryant injury, #Cowboys have NFL-low 2 TD passes. That's why Jerry Jones hoping hard for return
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) October 20, 2015
Dallas is also scoring just 20.2 points per game this year, the eighth-worst mark in the league. This just one year after the team finished fourth in offensive efficiency, according to Football Outsiders. Last week the Cowboys announced that recently signed quarterback Matt Cassel will get the start instead of Brandon Weeden this week.
The Giants are 3-3 and coming off an ugly loss to the Eagles.
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