Dez Bryant Expected To Play If Doctors Feel It’s Possible

Dez Bryant told Mike Fisher of Scout.com that “they’d have to break my leg to keep me out” of this weekend’s game.

“It would take more than this to take me out,” Bryant said.

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According to ESPN.com, a source has informed them that Cowboys WR Dez Bryant “is going to play” against the Steelers this weekend “unless the doctors say he medically can’t do it.”

Bryant is reportedly dealing with “significant swelling” in his finger and there’s a decent enough chance that he may never regain the flexibility in his finger if he chooses to play through the injury.

This is a very difficult decision for the young receiver to make and doesn’t help that the Cowboys forced him into this situation by telling the media that the decision rests with him. Bryant has been a lightning rod for criticism in recent years and rightfully so to some extent, but the Cowboys essentially forced him into either being a selfish player or risking that he may never be able to use finger the same way again.

We’ll have more on the topic as the news becomes available.

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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones mentioned that no decision has been made regarding whether or not Dez Bryant undergo surgery on injured finger or whether he’ll play in this weekends game.

“I know he wants to play,” Jones said, per Calvin Watkins. “Dez will be the ultimate decision-maker on surgery or playing with some kind of padding. … He’s chomping at the bit and wants to take the route of playing.”

This is at least a somewhat positive take on the situation, given that the initial reports that came out suggested that Bryant could be done for the season. There was some speculation that Bryant could play through the injury with a split over his injured finger last night. We’ll have to see what Dez ultimately decides to do.

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Nick Eatman reports that he recently spoke with Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett who mentioned that Dez Bryant will meet with a  hand specialist. Eatman adds that he believes Bryant will not be placed on IR.

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Richie Whitt of CBS Dallas reports that Cowboys WR Dez Bryant suffered torn ligaments in his finger during Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals and will subsequently be out for the remainder of the 2012 season.

Following yesterday’s game, Bryant referred to the injury as just a sprained finger, but Whitt adds that it will require surgery and the Cowboys will likely place him on season-ending injured reserve.

This clearly a huge blow to the Cowboys offense who already had a very difficult road to earn a spot in this year’s post season.