Witten says return to Cowboys about winning

OXNARD >> Upon further review, Jason Witten’s snazzy one-handed catch in the back corner of the end zone wasn’t a touchdown, because he apparently bobbled the ball while he was trying to get his second foot down.

But hey, there’s no replay in training camp. And whether it counted was beside the point for the tight end who came out of retirement and is poised to set the club record with a 16th season for the Dallas Cowboys.

Witten believes he can still play at 37, and is looking for any chance to show it. Before the catch that apparently wasn’t, Witten had another nice grab for a TD that did count, which set up a couple of declarations after the sixth practice of camp.

“Just an old guy trying to make a play here and there,” Witten said Friday — and then was asked how much he was enjoying his return to training camp, the part of the year players generally dread the most.

“This isn’t just to come out here and be a cheerleader and ride off into the sunset,” he said. “It’s to help this team win games in whatever way I can. That’s why I’m enjoying it.”

Witten’s return after a year in the “Monday Night Football” TV booth came with talk of a reduced role for an 11-time Pro Bowler who took nearly every snap in his first 15 seasons with the Cowboys.

He also has made a point of deferring to others when talk turns to leadership. It’s just hard to get around what Witten brings in terms of experience when the next-oldest tight end on the Dallas roster is 11 years younger.

“There’s so many things that, whether it be active or passive, that I’ve taken from his game in the last few months,” said 22-yearold Dalton Schultz, in his second season. “The influence that he’s had on the room so far is pretty heavy.”

It’s spilling over to the defense, too. Third-year safety Xavier Woods was a rookie when Witten was still around two years ago — but never got to go oneon-one against him in practice. The first chance finally came early in this camp.

“I was waiting, to be honest,” Woods said. “When he called my name, I couldn’t wait. I was relishing that moment.”