Dez Bryant Has Fractured Ankle; Season Likely Over
by Dave Halprin on Dec 6, 2010 10:01 AM CST
in Dallas Cowboys News
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PrintI mentioned this in the re-cap last night, but it looks like rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant's season is now over. While returning a kickoff in the Colts game, Bryant had his ankle rolled-up on a tackle and fractured the bone. He may require surgery according to the post-game report given to Jerry Jones by the team's athletic trainers.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the postgame information he received from team medical staff did not include the severity of the fracture or whether surgery will be required, but that Bryant's season was likely over.
Surgery this week does appear to be an option.
It's really too bad for Bryant and the Cowboys; the first-round pick was having a great season. Bryant's stats stand at 45 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns. He was also a force on special teams with two punt returns for touchdowns. Even more than that, he was becoming a focal point for opposing defense's game plans, as we saw in the Saints game on Thanksgiving Day. With Miles Austin, Roy Williams and Jason Witten all capable of doing damage, the emergence of Bryant was causing a huge dilemma for defensive coordinators. There just weren't enough guys in coverage to handle all those threats.
With Byrant out, Sam Hurd jumps up in the pecking order and will likely take over the third-receiver position. Hurd has always been a great special teams player, but he's also done a solid job when called on to fill-in on offense. He obviously doesn't have the physical talents that Bryant has - the explosiveness and the incredible hand-eye coordination and body control. Hurd is more of a possession receiver, but he can be counted on to run the correct routes and to catch the ball when thrown his way.
Another guy who could benefit from Bryant's absence is Kevin Ogletree. He ascends to the number four receiver position, and may be used as the third receiver in certain situations. Ogletree does posses the speed and ability to be a deep threat. He's shown in flashes that he can produce, now we'll see if the Cowboys turn to him more now, and if he can produce consistently over the last four games of the season.
On special teams, Bryan McCann will likely take over all the return duties that he was sharing with Bryant.
It was a great start to Dez Bryant's career, he proved that he was worthy of the Cowboys selecting him in the first round. He showed that other teams made a mistake by passing on him and allowing him to fall to the Cowboys. Starting again in 2011, Bryant will continue to make defenses pay.
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Hope he recovers quickly
Better a fracture than a break. Hopefully we will find out the severity and recovery time
soon.
I hope this doesn't result in him not handling returns next year.
Get some rest and get better soon, Dez. Thanks for playing hard and giving us a reason to cheer during a tough season.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 10:11 AM CST reply actions
Me too.
He has been way too good at effecting field position.
If they do anything at all with it, they definitly shouldn’t take him off of punt returns. Kick returns I sort of understand, punts not so much.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
I disagree.
Find a good returner.
All you care about is the difference between Dez and the replacement.
Crayton had the exact same 2 punt returns for TD.
McCann has looked satisfactory. Is the difference between Dez and McCann worth the injury risk? I don’t think so.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 6, 2010 10:31 AM CST up reply actions
He didnt have the same two.
Dez returned punts much more effectively and moved through traffic much much better than PC. No offense but who was scared to kick at PC? No one. Who was scared to kick at Dez? Exactly
Semper Fi Do or Die
It's an injury risk any time you touch the ball.
He has been playing hurt all year and it just finally caught up to him. The reason it seems like guys get hurt more on returns is that it is increased touches for a receiver. A great game for a receiver is 10 catches, but a punt and kick returner usually gets at least half that many touches, whether he returns it or not, plus his regular work. The problem isn’t the returns, it’s just increase opportunities which results in not only increased chance of injury, but also increased opportunity to make a big play. If you go through playing scared and putting only scrubs on special teams, you get crappy special teams.
Don’t confuse McCann’s fluke play with what Dez brings. If you think Crayton was as good as Dez at returns, we are not watching the same games. Crayton has 2 TDs in his 7 year career, and Dez has 2 in 15 returns. Roy Williams had more yards and TDs last year than Dez had this year; does that mean he was a better receiver?
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
Also, they found a good returner.
Dez Bryant
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
Wrong
It isn’t the increased touches that worries people about putting a star WR as a returner, but that a returner you have 11 guys running full speed at you trying to take your head off.
I say 100% without a doubt do not let him return kicks only in dire situations(last night didn’t seem like it)
Punts I would do 50/50.
Again as a returner unlike WR you have 11 10 guys (unless the kicker is beuhler) running full speed trying to kill you. Where as a WR has 4 guys tops trying to tackle him
Then how do receivers ever get hurt?
Desean Jackson got destroyed on reception, not on a punt return. It’s football, injuries happen. Playing scared and holding back is how you end up with a fired head coach and at the bottom of your division.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 11:06 AM CST up reply actions
Please
I know injuries happen but you don’t have to compound the chances they happen. Dez is a star and he does more damage lining up as a WR then returning kicks of any kind.
I say use him on Punts situationally and thats it.
You don’t see Reggie Wayne, TO, Roddy, Fitz etc returning kicks
They don't have that talent.
And never did. There is more to returning kicks than just sticking a guy who can run back there. How about guys like Wes Welker, Steve Smith (Carolina), Percy Harvin, DeSean Jackson, and Eddie Royal?
What happens if he gets hurt on a reception, do we put him on a count and say that he can only get 3 touches per game?
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
And he does equal damage.
As a receiver, he averages a TD every 7.5 catches, and 12.5 yards per catch. As a punt returner, he averages a TD every 7.5 returns, and 14.3 yards per return. This is a team that is loaded with talent and one of the biggest challenges is finding touches for every one. Why limit not only Dez’s touches, but also his talent? He has a special skill and should use it.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 11:37 AM CST up reply actions
Special teams is 1/3 of the game.
Coverage teams, punters, FG kickers and returners are a huge part of scoring and field position. Field position and FGs win a lot of games in the NFL.
Lock n Load
all those WRs have something in common
They are all small type WRs. Dez is the exact opposite. Just saying.
Also except for Djax no one is gameplanning for the others as WRs.
wrong
steve smith is doubled almost every single play.
by howboutdemcowboyz on Dec 6, 2010 11:46 AM CST up reply actions
ok they dont double him because that HAVE to
they double him because they can because theres no reason not to hes the only threat.
Same thing can be said about all those WR except Djax
Then they are idiots.
And it’s no wonder the Patriots are so dominant. If it doesn’t matter who is in there, why does Welker average 3 more catches per game than anyone else on their team?
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 7:33 PM CST up reply actions
because hes bradys favortie
but its not like they are 100yd bombs. They are 4 yd gains just like everyone else
I agree,
Dez is the player I want to return punts and kicks. He’s not ready to play full time at WR, so get him touches on ST. When he knows the playbook well enough to start and play full time, then look for someone else to return kicks
Lock n Load
well hes done for the season anyway
He hasn’t showed you enough to prove that after a full offseason with the team he can’t be a number 2 WR atleast?
Returner kicks can be left up to Mcann. Dez should be no where near that business.
Punts he can be used situationally
As I said,
when he learns the playbook and can play full time, find someone else to return punts and kicks. If it’s next year, good.
Lock n Load
Then why didnt deion return all the punts and kicks ????
There is a much bigger drop off from Dez to Hurd at WR than from Dez to McCaan at the PR and KR positions, that is reason enough for me to limit him to situational returns……
Deion was the best in the league, but the Boys still did not use him for every punt return…it is a risk / reward thing……
the opposing team must account for dez when he is on the field, but i would rather they have to account for him the 30 snaps a game he is in on off rather than the 5-7 PR…..
he being on the offense helps open things up for others, as well
He who laughs last, thinks slowest
How would I know?
The Cowboys did use him for most of the punt returns his last few years here, when he averaged 29 per season. But I wasn’t the coach for any of those teams, so I can’t answer that question. Maybe because he already played both offense and defense? He had great head coaches in Switzer and Campo and others, so it’s hard to tell. It seems like at some point they figured out that if they have that talent they should use it, though.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 2:53 PM CST up reply actions
Lol missed that you'd already stated what I had to say...
He’ll never return kicks again…
Greetings from the Humungus, the Ruler of the Wasteland, the Ayatollah of Rock and Roll-A. I laugh at your puny plans.
by Lord Humungus on Dec 6, 2010 10:31 AM CST up reply actions
Crap, let Roy Williams or marion barber return KO's if they're on the team next year!
earn their pay.
No matter how many of you want Bryant to do returns, I’m pretty sure Jerry will say no to that. You don’t see Felix returning any more, do you??
I’d use him on some punt returns, when the field is open for a nice return, like they did with Newman for a few years.
It’s funny, but Deion returned punts for years, and I never worried. He had an elusiveness and relied on speed. No one ever got a shot on him. DezB relies a lot on his power, and is also much more of a (physical) competitor than DSanders. He won’t avoid a hit. So I’d say pretty much say no way to KO’s, and only carefully chosen punt returns.
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
by Realist Larry on Dec 6, 2010 5:11 PM CST up reply actions
You can't just plug anyone that you want back there.
And I think Felix not returning kicks had as much to do with a lack of effectiveness as his increased role in the offense. If he was still breaking long returns, he would likely still have that job.
Dez’s injury wasn’t because he took some vicious hit. He was already hurt and tried to pull away from someone that had him by the foot. He’s more likely to take a crushing hit on reception where he is laid out or stretching and not able to defend himself.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 7:14 PM CST up reply actions
Worst thing about this injury
Is Jerry will now NEVER let Bryant return kicks/punts again, even though he may be the best I’ve seen since Hester’s heyday. Did I mention I loathe Jerry?
Greetings from the Humungus, the Ruler of the Wasteland, the Ayatollah of Rock and Roll-A. I laugh at your puny plans.
Is Jerry will now NEVER let Bryant return kicks/punts again
I hope that’s the case.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 6, 2010 10:31 AM CST up reply actions
Are you kidding??
He’s a weapon of the first order, and that’ll cause punters to kick conservatively and give us better field position.
Greetings from the Humungus, the Ruler of the Wasteland, the Ayatollah of Rock and Roll-A. I laugh at your puny plans.
by Lord Humungus on Dec 6, 2010 10:49 AM CST up reply actions
You don't play scared in the NFL.
Injuries happen. You get your best player the ball and give him the chance to make plays. You play to win the game
Semper Fi Do or Die
so we should
have romo run more QB sneaks and naked bootlegs too right ?? after all injuries happen
He who laughs last, thinks slowest
No, because that's not his skill set.
But a guy like Vick sure seems to run the ball a lot, and you wouldn’t say that Vick should never be used on those plays because it is too risky.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 2:53 PM CST up reply actions
Exactly what I meant.
Romo takes QB sneaks to the house 2 out of 15 times. Even from 90+ yards. end sarcasm
Semper Fi Do or Die
the risk / reward trade-off.
I agree that Dez is a great returner. But that’s only a limited number of plays. 8-10 per game.
As a full time WR he can be on the field 60 plays a game … 6x as much.
So he can make a much bigger impact as a WR than as a returner. Hence I don’t think it’s worth the risk
Dez is just has too much potential to have a large impact as a WR. It’s like using Jerry Rice to return kicks.
Draft Trindon Holiday/Javier Arenas, someone like that if good returns are important to you.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 6, 2010 12:31 PM CST up reply actions
+1
guess i should have read further before i posted something simalar to this above :-)
He who laughs last, thinks slowest
Granted Dez was injured returning a kick, but is the risk really that much greater?
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
How many times does he touch the ball as a receiver?
Vs. How many times does he touch the ball as a returner. You can’t play the game scared if you expect to win. You have to put the aces in their places. He’s an ace as a returner and a receiver. Why use inferior talent when we have a superstar just standing there?
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 2:55 PM CST up reply actions
do you think the Eagles should use Vick as a returner?
he’d probably be good at it?
If you don’t get it you don’t get it.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 6, 2010 4:17 PM CST up reply actions
Thisman returned punts for the Skins back in the day. :)
But he wasn’t the starter then.
Lock n Load
no but they use DeSean as a returner
I love the rotation back there for returns and I think we should continue it.
by somebodyquiet on Dec 6, 2010 4:38 PM CST up reply actions
Hey, Danny White got to be a punter, and he was a starting QB!
OK, not the same thing.
Actually, I’m on your side. Returns are too violent in their collisions.
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
by Realist Larry on Dec 6, 2010 5:14 PM CST up reply actions
Which was more violent?
Dez’s injury or DeSean Jackson’s? Dez had his leg twisted, he didn’t get knocked into next Tuesday.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 7:34 PM CST up reply actions
Based on what?
When have you seen Vick return kicks? Because he went to high school in the same area that I did and didn’t even do it then. It’s amazing how dismissive so many people are of the importance of returns. And it’s ironic that you are pointing out that when someone doesn’t get it they don’t get it, because you seem to think that just any fast guy can be a great kick returner. It is a special skill and there are even less returners that are true weapons than there are receivers, but there are plenty of fast guys out there.
I guess Bill Belichick doesn’t get it either, because Wes Welker returns punts for the Patriots even though he is typically among the league leaders in receptions. Or Andy Reid, since DeSean Jackson returns punts for the Eagles.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 7:26 PM CST up reply actions
Based on what?
Based on his speed and open field running ability
When have you seen Vick return kicks? Because he went to high school in the same area that I did and didn’t even do it then.
Is your belief that Vick wouldn’t have been an outstanding kick returner at the high school level?
You believe they didn’t have him return kicks in high school because he wouldn’t have been good at it?
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 7, 2010 12:05 PM CST up reply actions
I believe you tried to pick the silliest example that you could think of.
And in doing so, you proved my point that you think just because someone is fast, they can return kicks. I think it has been proven over and over again that you can’t just stick anyone back there and have success. Returning is a skill just like receiving, blocking, passing, etc.
It doesn’t matter what I believe, because you are suggesting that someone who has never returned kicks at an NFL, college, or high school level is the equivalent of someone who has excelled at that task at all 3 levels simply because it fits your argument.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 7, 2010 3:26 PM CST up reply actions
so you don’t think Vick would have been an outstanding kick returner at the high school level.
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 7, 2010 6:55 PM CST up reply actions
Probably, since he was so much more gifted than everyone else on the field.
But that has nothing to do with what we are talking about.
Dez has shown that he is outstanding at the NFL level, which is rare even for guys that excelled in college. We’re not talking about just taking a random guy and sticking him back there. With Dez, we are talking about someone that has shown to be special at that task at every level, including the NFL. You can’t compare that with Vick who has never been a returner at any relevant level and say it’s the same thing.
It’s not like Dez is simply an adequate returner. The sample size is small, but he appears to be elite. If he was ineffective, then I would agree that it makes no sense to have him back there.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 8, 2010 3:05 AM CST up reply actions
Probably, since he was so much more gifted than everyone else on the field.
so you agree Vick would have been good … so why didn’t his coach use Vick to return kicks? Why might that have been?
by Fan in Thick and Thin on Dec 8, 2010 8:42 AM CST up reply actions
You should ask his coach?
I can’t answer for why someone else did something. It’s absolutely ridiculous that your contention for why Dez Bryant shouldn’t be a returner for the Dallas Cowboys is because Michael Vick did not return kicks in high school. I also don’t know whether he would have been a great returner or not, and this is all speculation. Maybe he can’t catch the ball consistently. Maybe they felt he needed to devote his time to developing as a qb. We will never know. Let’s talk about actual situations, not hypothetical ones 15 years ago.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 8, 2010 12:23 PM CST up reply actions
But...
I do know that Ronald Curry, who was actually considered better than Vick in high school, played quarterback and returned kicks for Hampton.
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 8, 2010 12:29 PM CST up reply actions
Returning punts and kicks are entirely different.
It isn’t just catch and run in both.
When feilding a kick you catch in space and gain momentum within the 15 to 20 yards to traffic. That momentum is going opposite the defenders who have streaked 50 yards towards the return man. This equals big hits, almost everytime and isn’t worth risking Dez.
Punts on the other hand are all about vision, you typically catch the ball with the flyers streaking towards you at very small distance. It’s all about judgment. One quick move and you could be gone, one bad choice and you could be done. Dez has proven he has the vision, and he makes punters direct it out of bounds.
I want him to continue returning punts, but there’s no need for him to handle kickoffs.
Semper Fi Do or Die
Let me clarify this
“This equals big hits, almost everytime and isn’t worth risking Dez.”
I don’t feel he is head and shoulders above everyone else in this aspect. He’s great on punts, not sold on him completely as a kick return guy.
Semper Fi Do or Die
I completely agree with you.
Probably about 50 or percent of punts don’t even get fielded or are just fair caught anyways.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
I hope it's just a fracture
and there’s no soft tissue/ligament damage. He was already fighting that with the sprain. It would take longer and be less likely of a complete 100% recovery.
We live life forwards and understand it backwards
Good insight
Appreciate your insight on this. it’s easy to just think about the bone part of this when an equally important part is the ligament.
share your'e concern tdships,
if there’s more ligament damage then it will always be a weakness for Dez .
going to miss seeing him blow past defenders and making ridiculous catches..
get well soon big guy…
Davie Wilson
"how bout them cowboys"!!!
by scotscowboyfan on Dec 6, 2010 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
I said this in another post.
There is a chance that he also re-injured his high ankle sprain and they just didn’t mention that. Expecially since he rolled it over during friday’s practice and was a little gimpy. I hope he heals well and am glad that there are many months until OTAs.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Dec 6, 2010 3:21 PM CST up reply actions
Report I read in DMN said 1 ligament was involved
There are 6. I tore all of them in my late 20’s painful as hell and sore well after ‘healing.’
We live life forwards and understand it backwards
Based on your experience,
Will Dez be hampered in any way after he returns, other than the potential soreness?
BTW, what were you doing when you hurt your ankle?
It stayed sore for a while
but once I got the strength back, it was OK
Running to get in out of the rain, boot hell slipped and rolled completely over
We live life forwards and understand it backwards
yeah, definitely.......
what’s sad, it that Dandy Don, couldn’t take the stupid fans booing him and so he retired early, I loved him on Monday Night Football.
thats not entirely true.....he did not have a great relationship with Landry
the story goes that Don walked into Landry’s office and said “i’m thinking about retiring…”
Landry’s response…..“i think thats a great idea”
considering he was 31 – i think that tells you what Landry thought of him
go Kitna!
thats not entirely true.....he did not have a great relationship with Landry
the story goes that Don walked into Landry’s office and said “i’m thinking about retiring…”
Landry’s response…..“i think thats a great idea”
considering he was 31 – i think that tells you what Landry thought of him
go Kitna!
And as Dandy Don would say
The Fat Lady has sung, and it’s off the big game in the sky for Dandy Don
RIP Cowboy. You will not be forgotten
Maybe this is the rise of Jesse Holley
by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 6, 2010 11:52 AM CST reply actions
On the block, the guy went right between Holley and Lee.
Its just that Holley stopped and went back and Lee kept going up field.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Dec 6, 2010 3:24 PM CST up reply actions
I hope Ogletree and Hurd show great skills and make a lot of this opportunity
So we can get rid of Roy Williams next year…….I had enough of him.
I can live next year with Hurd, Ogletree, Miles, Dez and Holley…….we should also have Philips and Witten………Im ready to spare Williams, Barber and Martellus…..
Roy Williams caught the 2 pt. conversion and made some beatiful lateral moves to get a
first down in the 4th quarter. Besides that fumble last week, the guy has had an impressive year. I think Hurd and Ogletree are gone.
I'm a RW hater, but now even I have to admit the guy's played well this year.
Will he repeat it if he’s still on the team? that’s a big question.
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
by Realist Larry on Dec 6, 2010 5:15 PM CST up reply actions
It is difficult for a lot of people to separate RW's paycheck and draft picks from his performance.
He is actually pretty good. And I think he has a good attitude. I hope we find a way to keep him next year.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
by fan since '65 on Dec 7, 2010 4:01 AM CST up reply actions
All in all its just not our year.
Dez was fighting ankle injuries the whole year. Good win though.
"Individual players don't win championships, teams do."
With Dez out,
why not give Ogletree and Hurd some playing time to see if they are worth keeping on the roster next year. As far as I’m concerned, these last games are try-outs for next year.
f'n blows
was really upset last night when I saw him go down, I just knew it was broke
but the kid is a beast, he proved people wrong there
we got a beast WR for the next 10 years
my favorite player will be back next year and is already being a focal point in defensive gameplans as a 22 year old rookie
Beast Status 2011 Season
I'm so bummed about this. He got off to a slow start this season with an ankle
injury, and just as he was hitting his stride, this happens. It’s bound to set him back experience-wise. I’m sure he’ll be fine, but it’s another thing this team did not need.
He had a plate inserted
to help the fibula heal better… out 3-4 months
Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old
I would say yes
The AT’s in Dallas are some of the best guys in the business. I can only speak from what I’ve read, because I haven’t looked at Dez’s ankle.
Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old
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