Dez Bryant Injury Update: Cowboys WR Placed on Injured Reserve

After sitting out the Dallas Cowboys' Week 16 loss to the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Dez Bryant was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan first reported the move. Bryant missed five games earlier in the season after suffering a broken bone in his foot, and according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett expects the superstar wideout to undergo surgery on his foot and ankle.

According to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, though, the surgeries don't figure to require a significant recovery time:

ESPN's Ed Werder further clarified the procedure and revealed that Bryant may have continued to play if the Cowboys were still in contention:

Bryant surprised many when he managed to return to the lineup in Week 8, but he clearly didn't look like the same player who was previously named to the Pro Bowl on two occasions.

Poor quarterback play from Tony Romo's many replacements was certainly a factor, but Bryant simply didn't make the big plays observers have grown accustomed to.

With Bryant now back on the shelf, Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 questioned if the 27-year-old wideout may have been rushed back:

The fact that Dallas held him out against the Bills and is now placing him on IR suggests that it has no interest in risking further injury to one of its top players in a season that is well beyond a lost cause.

This is despite the fact that owner Jerry Jones said a couple of weeks ago that he had no plans to shut down Bryant, according to Troy Hughes of 105.3 The Fan:

Jones had a change of heart, though, and it is easy to see why since there was no point in trotting Bryant onto the field for a meaningless game.

The 2015 season was a major disappointment for Bryant, as he appeared in just nine games, making 31 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns, but the focus should be on 2016.

As disastrous as 2015 was, the Cowboys have a chance to compete for a division title next season if Bryant, Romo and Co. are healthy and at their best.

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