Dez Bryant: To Play or Not To Play?

Dez Bryant suffered a high ankle sprain July 30th during Cowboys practice, and the original expected recovery time from the injury was four to six weeks.

Bryant has been out for three weeks, and was seen in a walking boot up until last Sunday, when the boot was finally removed.

Bryant said that the ankle itself has no pain anymore and he could play on it, but he can't yet cut the way he would like because of the risk of reinjuring himself.

For now, the trainers have cleared Bryant to do cardiovascular work on the treadmill and the stair step machine.

Both Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Bryant are hopeful that Bryant can return for the club's final two preseason games, August 28th at the Texans, and September 2nd at home against the Miami Dolphins.

However, Jones acknowledged that the longer Bryant can stay off the ankle, the better it will be by the regular season opener against the Redskins.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips says that the timetable he was given from the trainers has not changed since the first diagnosis. Phillips' hope is that Bryant will be ready for the season opener September 12th at Washington.

Bryant says that his goal through the entire rehab process has been to return for the final preseason game against the Dolphins. However, Phillips typically has not played his regulars at all during the final preseason game in his time with the Cowboys.

Ultimately, it's the trainers' and Phillips' call whether or not Bryant plays this preseason or if the Cowboys will wait to unveil their super-hyped rookie until the regular season.