OUT OF ACTION
RB Elliott to make debut vs. Seahawks
Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant will sit out the next preseason game after he sustained a concussion in practice.
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant will miss the next preseason game after suffering a concussion in practice.
Coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday that Bryant was hurt a day earlier when the receiver’s head hit the shoulder pads of safety Barry Church. Garrett says Bryant was held out of the rest of that practice and will not play Thursday night at Seattle.
On his Twitter account Tuesday, Bryant promised Cowboys fans that he is OK.
Garrett said Bryant seemed “much better” Tuesday, and the coach doesn’t think there is a long-term concern.
“It was a nondescript hit,” Garrett said. “He kind of turned and Barry Church was actually slowing down as he came over to him. But somehow the angle of Barry’s shoulder pads and the angle of Dez’s head, they hit. Dez took a couple of steps and he kind of felt something.”
Bryant, a 2014 All-Pro, was limited to career lows in catches, yards and touchdowns last season after breaking his right foot in the opener.
Although he returned after missing five games, he had just one 100-yard game and sat the final two games with the Cowboys out of contention on their way to a 4-12 finish while also without quarterback Tony Romo for 12 games.
Bryant missed the past two offseasons, first in a contract dispute and then recovering from his second foot surgery. He had a strong training camp in California and was a surprise starter in the preseason opener at the Los Angeles Rams with Romo sitting.
The injury means Bryant, 27, is probably finished for the preseason because most if not all the starters will sit the finale at home against Houston on Sept. 1. The season opener is Sept. 11 at home against the New York Giants.
Bryant has four catches for 74 yards in two preseason games. He had a touchdown catch in each game.
“All those younger receivers get more of an opportunity,” Garrett said. “That’s happened a few times over the course of training camp and the first couple games of the preseason where a veteran player hasn’t been able to play and that’s given us an opportunity to see some younger guys.”
ELLIOTT:
Rookie fourthoverall pick Ezekiel Elliott will make his long-awaited Dallas Cowboys debut in Thursday’s preseason game at Seattle.
Elliott missed the first two preseason games out of precaution because of a sore hamstring, but he is ready to officially don the Cowboys’ blue star for the first time.
“I’m excited to get some full-go action. It’s been a long time since I played,” Elliott said. “I’m looking forward to Thursday.”
The former Ohio State star hasn’t played in a game and hasn’t been tackled since the Fiesta Bowl matchup against Notre Dame on Jan. 1 when he rushed 27 times for 160 yards and four touchdowns to solidify his status as one of the top prospects in NFL draft.
He won’t have that much of an impact against the Seahawks. Considering it’s his first game, he likely won’t play as long as the rest of the starters, who are expected to play roughly two quarters.
Coach Jason Garrett said the Cowboys will have a package of plays for Elliott to get him some touches and get him acclimated with the offense.
“What we try to do with the players who are playing in their first game is we have eight, 10, 12 plays — sometimes we go 15 to 20 plays with guys,” Garrett said. “We’ll have a plan for him. We’ll talk about that over the next couple days. Typically, with running backs we want to make sure they get a couple touches, throw them a couple passes, let them do different things — the things they’re going to do in games.”
Elliott couldn’t have played the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. He felt he could have played in last Friday’s preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, but was held out as a precaution.