Dez Bryant was helped off the Saints’ practice field Friday. The team fears the ninth-year wide receiver suffered a torn Achilles, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report on Twitter.
Bryant is getting an MRI now, and Rapoport and Pelissero report he will seek a second opinion after that scan is complete. This would be a brutal turn of events for a player who spent months in free agency and one who hoped to land an impact deal next year.
This injury occurred when Bryant was running a routine route, Jane Slater of NFL.com tweets. It is believed to have taken place on the final play of New Orleans’ practice, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). It was indeed a non-contact play, veteran reporter Ed Werder tweets.
While the Saints’ injury report lists Bryant as questionable with an ankle malady, that designation could soon change.
The recently acquired wideout was not supposed to be ready to play in the Saints’ Week 10 game against the Bengals, Pelissero notes (via Twitter). The longtime Cowboy was in the process of acclimating to a new system and presumably would’ve been ready to play in Week 11. While the Saints’ machine figures to hum along as it has for years, this may be a late-career-defining setback — if, in fact, Bryant has actually torn one of his Achilles’ tendons — for the receiver.
The Saints ended Bryant’s free agency stay by choosing him over fellow Tuesday-workout participants Brandon Marshall and Kamar Aiken. The former impressed the Saints, per Schefter (on Twitter), and could well be an option if Dez ultimately has severely damaged an Achilles. New Orleans placed Cameron Meredith on IR this week, and if its new acquisition can’t go, only has three healthy receivers on its roster. Meredith followed Saints wideouts Tommylee Lewis and Ted Ginn to IR, though Lewis has since resumed practicing and could be activated soon.
Dez turned down offers from the Ravens — a three-year, $21MM pact — and Browns (worth less than $5MM). He landed a $1.25MM deal with the Saints that contained incentives. Achilles tears represent one of the toughest injuries to overcome, and given the timing of this, Bryant’s rehab would take him into the free agency period. It would undoubtedly affect his market, particularly after the former All-Pro showed signs of decline during his final years in Dallas.
damn that was quick
Wow!
Career over…..
How compassionate
Dez’s agent: “We got no worries Dez. Things didn’t work out with the Saints but we have more than enough material to launch a reality TV series. I’m going to set up a lunch meeting with Mark Burnett next week.”
Like him or not, this is a terribly unfortunate event.
So he turned down millions and preferred to stay home earning nothing for nothing…then signs a deal and will earn money to stay home and do nothing. Sucks anytime somebody gets hurt, but it’s unfortunate for the team paying salary cap space for nothing.
Is the contract guaranteed?
What salary does he get from NO for this season (2018) ?
Yup. Actually it’s kinda sad. He was probably working out really hard in last few weeks to get into game shape knowing a possible signing or tryout was coming. As someone who has torn an Achilles, it usually comes from having a tendinitis which causes the tendon to become weaker from the microscopic tears.
Either way he’s looking at at least a year to return to normal. And at his age a step slower.
Everyone who has had the same injury as a player always acts like a subject matter expert. It’s funny.
Why wouldn’t they? They have actual firsthand knowledge of the subject. Should they pretend they don’t?
I was excited to see him in NO but all I can picture is Bryant as Hans Moleman ARGH MY ACHILLES
Whomp whomp
lol
Shoutout to the dude in my fantasy league who spent the #1 waiver spot on dez this week
Why on earth did he turn down 3-$21!?
Didn’t want to go there or his reps are idiots
He thought he would have a big year this season, and then he could get another $70mil deal next year
Wrong quarterback for him.
Karma anyone
How’s that karma.
That’s kind of cruel.
Realistically speaking, a 30+ year old WR who has already lost a couple of steps and who now has to recover from a torn achilles is not likely to make successful comeback.
I’ve never like him or the Cowboys for that matter, but I feel horrible for him. Never like to see injuries like this, he had so much to prove, I want to see the best out there every week, thought it was a good fit for him in NO.
That’s about right
Recently tore my achilles also. More than a year to fully recover. Unfortunate all around.
Well this is what happens when you act the way he did. He should have signed earlier in the season with the Ravens or even the Browns but now nothing and now this injury, oh well
Because, of course, nobody EVER gets injured playing for the Ravens or the Browns…