Witten couldn't walk Monday, confident he'll play on Sunday
By Jesse Reed
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is as tough as nails.
The veteran was reportedly unable to even walk on Monday, due to a couple sprained ankles and a sprained knee.
“Talk about a tough dude,” quarterback Brandon Weeden said, via The Dallas Morning News. “I heard he couldn’t even walk in here on Monday and he’s doing pretty good.”
He spent most of his day on Wednesday in the trainer’s room getting treatment on those ailments but declared himself good to go on Sunday when the Cowboys take on the Atlanta Falcons.
“I’m confident,” the Pro Bowl tight end responded when asked if he’d be able to take the field against the Falcons. “I felt good out there.”
This gritty response to his ailments isn’t something new. Though he did manage to suit up for practice Wednesday, he was extremely limited. He says he’s going to continue to take his rehab “day by day.”
While head coach Jason Garrett does have a backup plan if Witten is unable to take the field on Sunday, he doesn’t expect he’ll need to use it.
“Track record matters. He’s demonstrated a lot through his career that he can get himself ready to play when things don’t always look so good for him early on in the week. But we have to be ready with a lot of different alternatives.”
Already without quarterback Tony Romo and receiver Dez Bryant — two of the best at their positions in the NFL — Dallas is in danger of absorbing some difficult losses during the first half of the season. This is all the more difficult to handle in light of the team’s exceptionally high expectations entering the season. Most NFL experts pegged this Cowboys team as a Super Bowl contender, but it might be tough to get into the playoffs if Brandon Weeden and Co. struggle the next eight weeks.
That said, as long as Witten is there to help guide the franchise through this difficult time, there is a chance the ‘Boys will be alright.
More from Sportsnaut:
