Cowboys’ Bryant doesn’t make trip with team, unlikely to play against Giants

Dez Bryant did not make the trip on the team charter to New Jersey on Friday, and while it’s unlikely he plays against the New York Giants on Sunday, the Cowboys haven’t ruled him out.

The Cowboys list Bryant as doubtful on their official injury report, giving him a 25 percent chance of playing. A spokesman said Bryant stayed home to rest Friday and “may be coming up” Saturday.

Team executive vice president Stephen Jones conceded that Bryant will probably miss his fifth game.

“He’s got some work to do if he’s going to be able to play,” Jones said on his weekly radio show on KRLD/105.3 The Fan. “We’ll probably take a look at him when we get to the Meadowlands and make our final decision. But at the same time, we want to make sure we make the right call and know that we still have a long season ahead of us.”

Bryant worked on the side during practice this week, rehabbing his fractured right foot. He has never practiced with new starting quarterback Matt Cassel, acquired in a Sept. 22 trade with the Bills.

Bryant fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during the season opener against the Giants. He had surgery, which included a bone graft, on Sept. 14.

The Cowboys gave a timeline of six to eight weeks for his return.

Two weeks ago, Bryant traveled to Colorado for a procedure in which bone marrow stem cells from his hip were injected into his ankle to speed his recovery.

Nike, with the Cowboys’ consultation, fitted Bryant with a new right cleat designed to protect his surgically repaired foot.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said earlier in the week that Bryant is running and cutting. But Bryant has yet to return to practice.

While the Cowboys, who are on a three-game losing streak, need Bryant, they also want to make sure Bryant is fully healed and in football shape. He missed all of the off-season while seeking a new contract and missed much of training camp and all of the preseason games with a hamstring injury.

Tight end James Hanna, who was limited in practice all week, is questionable with an ankle injury. He has been inactive because of injuries for two games this season.

The other five players on the team’s injury report, including defensive ends Randy Gregory and Greg Hardy, are probable. Hardy returned to practice Friday and was a full participant after an illness kept him out Thursday. Gregory, who has missed the past four games with a high right ankle sprain, practiced in full all week.

Busy Friday

Rain forced the Cowboys indoors Friday.

They traveled to Coppell High School’s indoor facility, their first practice moved this year and the 16th since their indoor practice facility collapsed in a severe thunderstorm in 2009.

After practice, the Cowboys left for the airport for an early departure to New Jersey.

The team took a chartered ferry from their team hotel in Jersey City to One World Observatory in Manhattan. They toured ground zero and enjoyed a team dinner at the top of One World Trade Center.

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 6:48 PM with the headline "Cowboys’ Bryant doesn’t make trip with team, unlikely to play against Giants."