Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant played in just nine games last season and ended it on the injured reserve. He has not yet been cleared for offseason workouts, but a new report claims he could be further along than previously thought. According to the Star-Telegram, Dez is looking more and more like his All-Pro receiver self.
"He's done a really good job with his rehab, and he's made progress," Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said via the Star-Telegram. "Like with all those guys, it's a day-by-day, week-by-week thing. But he's had no setbacks, and he really continues to get better and better."
Dallas receivers coach Derek Dooley anticipates the two-time Pro Bowler to be back 100% on June 1 — just over two weeks until the Cowboys' minicamp begins on June 16. Bryant missed the majority of the season in 2015 after missing the offseason in a contract holdout and then injuring his hamstring early in training camp. In the season opener, Bryant fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in the season opener. He required the first surgery on his foot, which kept him out five games. Dooley says one of the most important aspects of his rehab is from a conditioning standpoint.
"The biggest thing with him is the starting point is conditioning," Dooley said. "It doesn't matter how good you might be, if you're not in physical condition to run routes and to get people off you, it's going to be hard. So we almost, with Dez, have got to go back to square one, go back to the fundamentals. It's almost as if he's had a year off. Develop our skill sets as a wideout, but at the same time, get back into a level of conditioning to allow yourself to apply those skills 65, 70 snaps in a game. That's not going to happen in nine OTAs."
In 2014, Bryant caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns, which gave him All-Pro recognition. If he can rehab successfully and be healthy in time for Training Camp, he'll likely be full-go come Week 1, which Cowboy fans would be overjoyed to see.
[H/T Star-Telegram]
