Jason Witten: How Spleen Injury Affects Cowboys TE's Fantasy Draft Stock

Jerry Jones was right to hold his breath.

The Oakland Raiders’ Rolando McClain jacked up Jason Witten on Monday Night Football. Jones sensed something was wrong, and he was correct.

Paulie Pabst of the Dan Patrick Show reported on Wednesday that the Dallas Cowboys tight end did indeed suffer an injury. He tweeted:

"

Two sources have told us that Cowboys Jason Witten has a spleen injury from a hit in the Raider game. Still unknown if he will need surgery.

— Paulie Pabst (@PaulPabst) August 15, 2012"

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk went on to add that Witten won’t suit up for the remainder of the preseason. His status for Big D’s Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants is up in the air as well.

How does his injury affect his fantasy football value?

It shouldn’t.

Ed Werder of ESPN reported that the Cowboys believe there's a possibility Witten could come back quite soon. He tweeted:

"

Jason Witten injured spleen but not believed ruptured. Hope is no surgery and return in 2-3 weeks. Absence far longer if surgery needed

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) August 15, 2012"

But even if Witten needed to get his spleen removed, according to the National Institutes of Health, recovery for such a procedure usually takes four to eight weeks. And considering that Witten is far more physically gifted than the average human being, he’d probably be good to go in four weeks or less.

At the most, Witten would likely only miss one or two weeks of the regular season. That shouldn’t make you hesitate to pull the trigger on the consistent tight end.

Over the past five years, he’s averaged 89 receptions, 1,014 yards and over five touchdowns a season. And with Laurent Robinson’s departure to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas doesn’t have an established No. 3 wide receiver at the moment. That means Tony Romo will look to Witten on the inside just as much, if not more than ever, this season.

Don’t let a spleen scare you. Witten won’t miss much of the regular season, and the time that he does miss, he’ll make up for following his return.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels