Bryant’s return questionable as Cowboys set to face Seattle Sunday
If Dez Bryant finally returns Sunday for the Dallas Cowboys — far from a certainty — he’ll be picking a difficult weekend to do so.
He would be catching passes from Matt Cassel for the first time while facing a vaunted Seattle Seahawks secondary he has never scored against in three prior meetings.
Bryant practised for the first time in almost seven weeks Wednesday, but he’s listed as questionable. He was a limited participant in practice all week and said he’s “trying to be smart about it.” But he also said Friday that if the decision were his, “I would be playing.”
Bryant hasn’t played since suffering a broken right foot in the Sept. 20 opener against the New York Giants.
“I think the other guys have rallied around really well in his absence,” coach Jason Garrett said. “But to get him back, just on the practice field and certainly once the game starts, will make a big difference to our football team. There’s no question in my mind about that.”
The presence of Bryant would take some pressure off Cassel, who made his Dallas debut in last Sunday’s 27-20 loss at New York. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown, but doomed the Cowboys with three second-half interceptions.
“He’s getting to know me and I’m getting to know him, just like all these guys,” Cassel said. “Every little bit helps because we get into my second week really running the offence.”
Cassel replaced Brandon Weeden as the starter but it didn’t stop the Cowboys (2-4) from dropping their fourth straight without the injured Tony Romo, who will miss at least three more games.
Bryant came into the league the same year as vaunted Seattle safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor and one year before Richard Sherman joined the Seahawks. The receiver has totalled 11 receptions and 156 yards in three matchups while being targeted 26 times.
Cassel will be challenged by a pass rush that features defensive end Michael Bennett, who had a career-high 3 1/2 sacks in last Thursday’s 20-3 win at San Francisco and is tied for the NFL lead with 6 1/2.
The outspoken Bennett voiced his opinion on Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy’s outburst near the end of the Giants game. Hardy had a physical confrontation with special teams coach Rich Bisaccia and berated teammates on the coverage unit after barging into their huddle following a decisive 100-yard kickoff return for a TD by Dwayne Harris.
Garrett said Dallas would not discipline Hardy.
“He probably just got overheated and hopefully he can work it out,” Bennett said. “But Hardy’s one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL. He’s been doing his thing since he’s been here, so I know he’s a great player. He just has to stay out of the news.”