Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant has stayed in shape and is leaving the door open for a return to the NFL if a team feels it can take advantage of his talents.
While Bryant’s days as a Pro Bowl pass catcher are behind him, the 33-year-old believes he could be one of the NFL’s best in the red zone if given the opportunity. Bryant joined “SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio” on Aug. 10 to discuss his future.
“I still think I could be a red zone threat. I think that’s one of my specialties,” Bryant said. “I think I can still be one of the top red zone threats in the NFL, especially because of how we love to pass the ball in today’s game.”
Bryant has caught just six passes since the 2017 season ended, all during a brief six-game stint with the Ravens in 2020. While he would love to suit up again and feels he could make an impact, Bryant was clear that he wouldn’t want to “disrespect the game” if his mind wasn’t right.
“Even if I had the ability, if I feel like my mind isn’t right, I’ll leave,” Bryant said. “I’m not trying to get back in the league and be a star but to be in a position where I can help, be in the locker room, help guys and whatever they want to get help. I just like being in that environment. I’ll just like talking to the guys about soccer and talking about things that we often get better at.”
Dez Bryant recently weighed in on the Cowboys’ meeting.
Bryant’s statement comes at an interesting time, with the Cowboys dealing with some injuries at the receiver position and an overall lack of proven depth behind the new No. 1 CeeDee Lamb.
Bryant recently assessed the idea of a reunion with the Cowboys via social media, and free agent pass catcher Odell Beckham Jr. urged him to “get home.”
“I wouldn’t mind throwing the X again in the Big D! But you know I’m working hard and on a different mission right now,” Bryant tweeted, referencing his off-the-field work.
Bryant had a monster run from 2012 to 2014 with the Cowboys, with three consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus yards and double-digit touchdowns, earning All-Pro honors in 2014. The idea of bringing in Bryant might inspire some nostalgia for Cowboys fans, but it wouldn’t solve any of their problems at the wide receiver position.
Cowboys feel good about young receivers.
While the team will be keeping an eye on how its younger receivers develop during the preseason, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said there is no urgency to add a veteran receiver, even though Michael Gallup and James Washington are expected to miss a chunk of time to start the year. .
“It doesn’t create an urgency for us on a veteran catcher,” Jones said Aug. 2. “We like these young guys.”
Lamb has done his part to encourage the team’s younger receivers such as Jalen Tolbert, Simi Fehoko, Dennis Houston, and Noah Brown to take advantage of extra reps during training camp.
“The door is open for the opportunity for anybody,” Lamb said. “And I feel like the younger guys have taken advantage of that opportunity and are trying to do something with it.”
The Cowboys open their preseason slate Saturday against the Broncos on the road.
