Dez Bryant Injury: Updates on Cowboys Star's Knee Injury

Dez Bryant’s rocky start to his career has taken yet another wrong turn.

UPDATE: Tuesday, August 21 at 3:55 p.m. ET by Ben Chodos

Dez Bryant's knee injury has done nothing to his determination to be on the field for the Dallas Cowboys.

ESPN's Sara Walsh reported via Twitter that the wide receiver has no intention of missing out on the season opener.

"

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant says he plans to play in the opener against the giants "without a doubt." #cowboys

— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) August 21, 2012"

The September 5 game against their NFC North rivals is two weeks from tomorrow, and Bryant will likely be handled with extreme care up until then, as Tony Romo and the Cowboys' offense need him to be on the field against the defending Super Bowl champions. 

UPDATE: Monday, August 20 at 6:04 p.m. ET by Richard Langford

ESPN's Todd Archer follows up the good news (see below) that Bryant's knee problems are just a result of tendinitis, and he brings us all up to speed on the not-so-high-tech recovery process from this.  

"

Filed to @espndallas - Patella tendinitis for Dez Bryant. Rest is the word. Too early to know if he plays in preseason

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 20, 2012"

I have to believe that if we were already in the regular season, Bryant would be in action for the Cowboys next game. But this is just the preseason, and Bryant may get his "rest" over the final two weeks of this preliminary action. 

UPDATE: Monday, August 20 at 6:04 p.m. ET by Richard Langford

ESPN's Calvin Watkins gives a name to the pain that is ailing Bryant's knee. 

"

Dez Bryant has patellar tendinitis in right knee. Mayo Clinic says its commonly known as jumper's knee. Bryant does that well.

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 20, 2012"

Now tendinitis is an annoying injury and it is not something that usually goes away. However, this is far better than seeing the word "tear" anywhere in this report. 

Let me stress that I am not a doctor, and this is far from official or professional, but with proper treatment, it is hard to see this injury forcing Bryant to miss any meaningful game time. 

------ end of update ------

The troubled but talented wide receiver is going to undergo an MRI on his knee that he injured during practice on Monday, according to Nick Eatman of the True Blue Fan Club.

"

Dez Bryant is having an MRI on his knee... Injury suffered early in Monday practice

— Nick Eatman (@nickeatman) August 20, 2012"

It doesn’t seem to be too serious, as David Moore of the Dallas Morning News caught up with Bryant, asked how he was doing and pointed out that he seemed fine.

Bryant, the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, has had a tumultuous start to his professional career.

In 2010, he pulled in 45 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns before going on the IR with a fractured ankle. The following season, his sophomore year, Bryant battled through nagging injuries, notably to his hamstring, to haul in 63 receptions for 928 yards and nine touchdowns as a starter.

The offseason has been tough for Bryant, as he was arrested back in July for an alleged domestic violence incident. It was just the latest in a number of off-the-field incidents that have been plaguing the 23-year-old for his entire career.

It seemed that Bryant had started to turn things around and was working hard in training camp and preseason in order to get ready for the upcoming 2012 campaign.

This injury is just unfortunate and could not come at a worse time.

Miles Austin, the other starting receiver in Dallas, is still rehabbing and isn’t likely to be ready in time for the season opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 5.

If Bryant is significantly banged up, the Cowboys are going to struggle to find production from their relatively unknown and inexperienced receivers.

Keep it tuned here on B/R for the latest news, information, updates, opinions and analysis on Dez Bryant’s latest injury.