Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant may indeed get his wish for a return to the National Football League. Cowboys fans hoping for a reunion with his former club, however, may be out of luck.
NFL insider Josina Anderson is reporting Bryant may be close to securing himself some workouts, now that the league has eased up on regulations put in place regarding free agent visits. Bryant, of course, has been lobbying hard to make a comeback after an Achilles tear ended his tenure with the New Orleans Saints after literally a matter of days. Anderson reports that Bryant is now in talks with the Baltimore Ravens “and some other teams” about an in-person tryout.
I'm told free agent WR Dez Bryant has been in talks with the #Ravens and other teams for a potential workout, per sources. Bryant has been working hard to bring himself back.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 17, 2020
UPDATE: Bryant is confirmed to be working out for the Ravens this week, via NFL Network’s Jane Slater.
Free-agent WR Dez Bryant is expected to travel to Baltimore this week for a workout with the #Ravens, sources tell @SlaterNFL and me.
This has been in the works for a while. Dez hasn't played in a game since 2017, but he's in shape, motivated, and intends to play in 2020.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 17, 2020
Bryant was a first-round pick for Dallas in 2010. After eight successful seasons and three Pro Bowls, he was cut prior to 2018’s training camp.
He sat out the first half of the 2018 regular season, reportedly spurning an offer to play in Cleveland. He was signed by the Saints in November of that year, but ruptured an Achilles tendon in just his second practice with the team.
After a grueling rehab that he often documented on social media, Bryant announced his desire to return to the NFL. He focused on a small handful of clubs, including his former employers in both Dallas and New Orleans.
My dream goals… I want to suit up in the blue and silver…the black and gold or black and purple…
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 24, 2020
There had been legitimate hope of Bryant returning to Dallas, with owner Jerry Jones even fanning the flames on more than one occasion. The selection of Oklahoma wideout CeeDee Lamb in the 2019 Draft threw some water on that fire. When Jones then talked Lamb into wearing Bryant’s old jersey number, the last ember seemed to be extinguished.
The league had shut down free agent visits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but announced just last week that they were lifting those restrictions.
Coincidentally or not, Bryant tweeted the following two days after that news release:
I literally just received great news!!! 🙏🏿
I’m thankful— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) August 13, 2020
It will be hard for many Cowboys fans to see Bryant finally suit up for another squad after so many memorable moments in Dallas. But he’s worked his tail off to even be in a position to talk realistically about a comeback, especially at a position where most players see their skills fall off the edge of a table and never return. Bryant deserves the chance to go out and prove himself, and maybe even throw up the X a few more times.
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