How long is Dez Bryant really out for? One reporter may have some insight into the truth
Ever since Dez Bryant broke his fifth metatarsal on his right foot, there have been conflicting reports on his timetable for a return as well as the injury itself. We still do not exactly know if Bryant has a Jones fracture, which is more common and more severe, or if he just broke his fifth metatarsal. Last week it was announced that he had a bone graft as well, which further convolutes reports. Some physicians feel this lengthens his recovery time while others claim it speeds up recovery. Speculation has run rampant in regards to his actual injury and how long he will be out. Here are varying reports speculating Bryant’s return, all on September 20, 2015.
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Per the NFL Network:
BREAKING: Dez Bryant expected to miss 10-12 wks after undergoing a bone graft on his broken right foot, via @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/c150dtVgsY
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 20, 2015
Per Ed Werder of ESPN:
Source says bone graft performed during Dez Bryant foot surgery enhances prospects for him to return in around 6 weeks. Team prepared for 8
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) September 20, 2015
Per Mike Fisher of CowboysHQ.com
#Cowboys believe 8 weeks or fewer is doable for #dezbryant .. Some smart team minds still hoping 6 https://t.co/ha2Nw7JlB0
— mike fisher (@fishsports) September 20, 2015
Per Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys:
Whenever the media can't talk to me.. Reports get made like this..10 to 12 weeks… we will just see how long I'm out lol .. Go cowboys!!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) September 20, 2015
There are also very smart, well-respected physicians such as Dr. Jene Bramel of FootballGuys.com, who have weighed in on Bryant’s injury. He estimates recovery at the 8-10 week range, which is consistent with his findings regarding similar surgeries in athletes. Dr. Bramel is not only a well-respected physician but an incredible football mind. However, I do feel we have to be cautious when we listen to these reports. I do not encourage caution regarding whether these physicians are accurate or not. I encourage caution because they simply did not perform Bryant’s surgery and have not seen his X-rays. Therefore, they are essentially providing us with a hypothesis.
Medical experts and physicians weighing in allow us to gauge any player’s injury and recovery, but the Dallas Cowboys have not said much in regards to Bryant’s injury. The fact of the matter is we do not know exactly how long Bryant will be out, but we should be encouraged by local reports. During the offseason, I recommended following beat writers on Twitter because “local writers know everything first.” I strongly feel this is true in Dez Bryant’s situation.
If you want to monitor Bryant’s status for your fantasy teams, start with Mike Fisher. He has been covering the NFL for 32 years and has been inside of Valley Ranch covering the Dallas Cowboys since 1990. If you check out his website or follow his Twitter feed, you will soon realize he is one of the reporters, if not the only reporter, Dez Bryant usually speaks to. There is a trusting relationship between the two and I would be willing to bet that when there is an announcement in regards to Bryant’s return Fisher will know first. Remember this offseason when media scoffed at reports that Bryant would hold out in protest over the franchise tag because no one would miss out almost $800,000 a week? Fisher is the one who got word directly from Bryant’s mouth that the threat of the holdout was legit. Listen to Mike Fisher – he actually speaks to Dez Bryant.
What are fantasy owners supposed to do with all of these conflicting reports? Should we settle in without Bryant for anywhere from 6-12 weeks? There is a reason Dallas chose not to short-term/IR Bryant, so I recommend planning for eight weeks and being optimistic for six weeks. Trust in the local reports, specifically Fisher, who has an inside track to Bryant as well as the Cowboys’ training staff. I also feel it is important to listen to Bryant himself. He speaks with his doctors who performed his surgery. Therefore, we have to accept his word with a decent amount of credibility. You can follow him on Twitter in the event he decides to give any updates or if you just want to enjoy him live-tweeting Cowboy games. In the meantime, you can entertain trade offers for Bryant or hold him in the hopes that him and Tony Romo return around the same time and help you during your fantasy playoff push.
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Jen Ryan is a correspondent at FantasyPros. Click here for her archive and feel free to reach her and talk all things fantasy @FFdeJENerate.
