Jason Witten Injury: Latest on TE's Week 1 Status, John Phillips' Reps and More

The Dallas Cowboys are still hoping to have starting tight end Jason Witten line up with the rest of the offense on September 5 against the New York Giants and have yet to rule him out of that contest.

UPDATE: Wednesday, September 5 at 7:25 p.m. ET by Ben Chodos

Jason Witten has recovered remarkably quick from his lacerated spleen and it has been reported that he will play for the Dallas Cowboys in the team's season opener against the New York Giants.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the news via Twitter, and it has been confirmed by the Cowboys.

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Jason Witten is playing for Cowboys, per sources. Cleared by doctors. # NFL32

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 5, 2012"

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RT @dcstarjellis: It's official, Jason Witten is active.

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 5, 2012"

The amount of action Witten will see is not entirely clear, but he will be in pads tonight. 

--------END OF UPDATE--------

UPDATE: Wednesday, September 5 at 10:40 a.m. ET by Adam Wells

Following up on an earlier update indicating Witten would likely not play in Wednesday's season opener, Chris Mortensen of ESPN had an interesting report about the Cowboys tight end. 

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Jason Witten has persistently offered to sign medical waiver. #Cowboys won't accept it. Made trip, doubtful, "game-time decision." #NFL32

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 5, 2012"

If you want to take Witten's side, that is certainly understandable. He has the drive and desire to be out there when his team takes the field to start the season. There is nothing wrong with that. 

But you have to respect what the Cowboys are doing by trying to protect Witten from himself. They need him to be healthy all season, not just for the first game. 

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UPDATE: Wednesday, September 5 at 9:15 a.m. ET by Adam Wells

There is good news and bad news on the Witten front. According to a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Cowboys tight end is not likely to play against the Giants but could be back next week. 

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As Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram pointed out during a Tuesday visit to PFT Live, owner Jerry Jones has said that Witten has been cleared to play in Week Two, when the Cowboys travel to Seattle.

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The Cowboys do have several offensive weapons to pick up the slack in Witten's absence, but it seems like Tony Romo will have to find a new safety net for at least one game. 

---------------END OF UPDATE--------------

UPDATE: Monday, September 3 at 12:15 p.m. ET by Adam Wells

There is some good news from Cowboys' camp, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is reporting that Witten is on the practice field again. 

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Cowboys TE Jason Witten is at practice. That's three days in a row. But still, all depends on his test on Tuesday. #Spleen

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 3, 2012"

At least Witten is able to make it on the field for practice. The Cowboys still have to hope for a lot of good vibes when he goes in for that test tomorrow. Their offense is dramatically different with him in the lineup, and Tony Romo loves to target him as a safety net. 

--------END OF UPDATE------------

UPDATE: Sunday, September 2 at 5:05 p.m. ET

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas, Witten "will get a CT scan on his spleen on Tuesday before the team leaves for New Jersey" to determine if he will be ready for Wednesday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

As MacMahon notes, owner Jerry Jones said earlier in the week that the Cowboys would consider sitting Witten even if he was medically cleared to play. But Witten didn't seem particularly keen on that idea:

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"If I get cleared, we're playing," Witten said Sunday. "It's the only way, I believe, you can approach the game. I think people know that's the only way I'm playing. This is what you play for."

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I have a feeling the boss may win that argument, however.

-----------END OF UPDATE----------

UPDATE: Sunday, September 2 at 2:19 p.m. ET

Despite inching back to the playing field, Jason Witten may be unlikely to suit up for the Cowboys' opener vs. the Giants on Wednesday. ESPN's Ed Werder has the latest:

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Cowboys consider Jason Witten spleen laceration to be 4- to 6-week injury, which makes him extremely unlikely to play opener.

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) September 2, 2012"

New York Posts' Bart Hubbuch later reported that Tony Romo said Witten is going to play on Wednesday.

"

Romo says Jason Witten is going to play Wednesday.

— Bart Hubbuch (@HubbuchNYP) September 2, 2012"

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sheds more light on the Witten situation, per NFL.com's Ian Rappaport:

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Cowboys owner Jerry jones said Jason Witten will have a scan on Tuesday before they leave for NJ to determine if he plays. So far so good

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 2, 2012"

---END of UPDATE---

UPDATE: Saturday, September 1 at 11:35 a.m. ET

Jason Witten is expected to practice today, according to ESPNDallas.com's Todd Archer. 

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"While he still needs to be cleared to play in Wednesday’s regular-season opener at the New York Giants, Cowboys tight end Jason Witten will practice Saturday for the first time since suffering a lacerated spleen against Oakland on Aug. 13, according to a source."

"

Archer goes on to report that John Phillips would start in his Witten's place if the superstar tight end is unable to suit up in the big rivalry game.

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"If Witten cannot play, then the Cowboys would start John Phillips and have rookie James Hanna as the backup. "

 

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---END OF UPDATE---

Witten suffered an injury to his spleen during the preseason, but Josh Ellis of DallasCowboys.com was told by a source familiar with the tight end's progress that Witten will be a game-time decision against the Giants.

Dallas head coach Jason Garrett spoke with Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas about Witten's recover from the injury, with Watkins tweeting a blurb from the conversation:

"

Jason Garrett on Jason Witten's health: "He had a positive report from the doctors yesterday. His spleen is healing it is getting better."

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 30, 2012"

If Garrett's game-time decision is to sit Witten, the team is set to start backup John Phillips at tight end. Phillips has been with the Cowboys since 2009, totaling 22 receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown over that time.

The three-year veteran can relate to Witten about preseason injuries, as Phillips' 2010 season was cut short due to an ACL injury during an exhibition contest that year.

When asked about starting in the Cowboys' regular season opener, Phillps told Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News:

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You’ve got to be ready to go...You always think you’re going to have a major role every game your entire career...So that’s the way you’ve got to prepare, go in every week thinking you’re going to play 70 reps.

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Phillips sounds prepared to step up for Witten if he is called upon, but the Cowboys will be hoping to have their usual tight end lining up on the first snap against their Super Bowl champion rival.