Dez Bryant Injury: Updates on Cowboys Star's Hamstring and Return

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant had been "sidelined indefinitely" with a hamstring strain and missed the team's preseason finale, but he is expected to be ready for the team's season opener. 

Continue for updates.

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Bryant, Garrett Comment on WR's Status

Sunday, Sept. 20

Bryant spoke about speculation he will be out 10-12 weeks:

"I'm just patiently waiting," Bryant said on Sept. 10, via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. "It feels good to be out at practice. I'm just excited to be back with my teammates."

On Aug. 16, Garrett said Bryant was "making progress," via Machota. At the time, Garrett downplayed the significance of Bryant's absence, according to Machota:

"

The worst thing you can do is get a guy coming back, working hard in his rehab, but then you put him out there too early and then he falls back for a couple weeks and he’s on the shelf. You want to make sure they’re ready to go, and then when they get out there, you ease them into it a little bit and then you let them go. I think we’ve had good success with that in the past.

You have to recognize who the player is and when you need them.

"

The 26-year-old wide receiver signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Cowboys in the offseason after a well-documented wait, as he and the team could not come to terms. 

Entering his sixth season in the NFL, Bryant has blossomed into one of the game's best receivers. In each of the past three years, he has recorded more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he led the league with 16 receiving touchdowns last year. 

He might be on the flashy side, and he talks his way into trouble with the media, but there is no denying that Bryant is one of the biggest offensive threats in the league.

If Bryant somehow misses the opener against New York, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley will fill the void while he recovers, though quarterback Tony Romo has certainly worked with worse in his career. 

The Cowboys must have their star wide receiver completely recovered prior to the start of the season and hope the injury doesn't resurface down the road, so it makes sense to play it safe prior to Week 1. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com