Jason Witten got good news today when he found out that his lacerated spleen would not need surgery. After lacerating his spleen in a preseason game against the Raiders last Monday, Witten had to basically sit around and be idle for 7-10 days and wait to see if it healed, otherwise he would have needed surgery. It would seem it has, which is obviously very good news.

However, after spending 7-10 days idle, Witten is unlikely to be ready to play week 1, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Witten’s chances are hurt by the fact that the Cowboys play their opener on Wednesday Night Football against the Giants, September 5th, so they’ll have 4 fewer days to prepare than the rest of the league. Schefter went on to say that it’s “more likely” that Witten would be back week 2, but stopped short of assuring a week 2 return for Witten. More likely, Witten will be back to his old self by week 3.

Witten, who has not missed a game since his rookie year in 2003, has averaged 5.16 catches for 59.07 yards and 0.31 touchdowns per game since 2004. Considering his amazing consistency (between 64 catches for 754 yards and 96 catches for 1145 yards in every season since 2004), he should be able to do that again this season. If he plays 14 games and averages those numbers, he’d have 72 catches for 827 yards and 4 touchdowns. That would seem to be his statistical floor this season. He’s still a safe bet as a TE1 in fantasy leagues. It’s a very deep tight end year so you can find someone to fill in for him in your lineup for a week or two pretty easily.

If you’re interested in doing a fantasy football league with me, here’s the link (no draft date set yet, currently standard, with the option to become PPR with group vote). http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/football/commissioner/Registration/Private.aspx?league=55086&password=FanSpot2

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Miles Austin, who has yet to play in a preseason game this year, is expected to miss the rest of the preseason with hamstring problems, according to the Cowboys’ official website. Hamstring problems tend to linger and Austin missed 6 games with hamstring problems last year and was limited by them in several others, leading to essentially a lost season for the talented wideout as he caught just 43 passes for 579 yards and 7 touchdowns. He’s no sure thing for week 1.

With Austin battling these hamstring problems and Jason Witten out indefinitely after rupturing his spleen, the Cowboys’ lack of depth in the receiving corps could be exposed. Backup tight end John Phillips, who would start in the absence of Witten has caught just 22 passes in his career, while the multitude of guys competing for positioning on the Cowboys depth chart behind the starters have combined for just 25 career catches, all of which were by Kevin Ogletree. The 2009 undrafted free agent, who struggled when counted on to start last season, is sadly the veteran of the group.

While all of these injuries are not good for the Cowboys’ offense as a whole, they probably will be good for Dez Bryant. Bryant, who is having a strong offseason on the field, could be due for a huge season in his 3^rd year in the league, typically a breakout year for receivers. He’s the clear #1 option in one of the best passing attacks in the league. After catching 63 passes for 928 yards and 9 touchdowns last season, Bryant could have over 70 catches for 1100 yards and 10 touchdowns this year, if he stays healthy.

If you’re interested in doing a fantasy football league with me, here’s the link (no draft date set yet, currently standard, with the option to become PPR with group vote). http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/football/commissioner/Registration/Private.aspx?league=55086&password=FanSpot2

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OLB Anthony Spencer

Anthony Spencer was franchised this offseason, at the rate of 8.8 million, which was surprising because he’s never managed more than 6 sacks in a season. However, a closer look at his statistics shows that he is a very good player. Though he only had 6 sacks this season, he did have 9 quarterback hits and 35 quarterback pressures and he was ProFootballFocus’ 2nd highest rated 3-4 outside linebacker against the run, only behind James Harrison.

The Cowboys franchised him this offseason to essentially give him a one year “prove it” deal, in hopes that he would finally break out as an elite pass rusher opposite DeMarcus Ware. Owed 120% of his 2012 franchise tag value in 2013, if he were to be franchised again, 10.56 million, Spencer is doubtful to get the tag again unless he has a massive breakout season.

Likelihood: Unlikely

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According to ESPN Dallas, cornerback Mike Jenkins is a candidate to begin the season on the PUP, which would suggest that his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery is not going well. If placed on the PUP, he would have to miss the first 6 games of the season. Jenkins, who has been complaining about his positioning on the depth chart all offseason, and demanding to be traded, is expected to be present when Training Camp opens, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be practicing.

This is a major hit for his trade value and could mean that Jenkins will remain in Dallas this season as their 3^rd or 4^th cornerback behind offseason acquisitions Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, much to his dismay. The Cowboys reportedly had interest from 4 suitors in Jenkins earlier this offseason, including Indianapolis and Detroit. They might be wishing they had taken one of those deals, especially if Jenkins has to miss significant time. The 2008 1^st round pick and 2009 Pro Bowler is a free agent after the season.

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According to the Associated Press, the mother of Dez Bryant, who accused him of domestic abuse last week, will not press charges. This does make sense because, as I could imagine, it must be very tough for a mother to press charges against her son. Bryant has to feel very fortunate because, if she had decided to press charges, a one-game suspension from the NFL seemed very possible. After this recent development, Bryant seems likely to play all 16 games this season, barring injury of course.

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After last week’s domestic abuse arrest (for assaulting his mom of all people, who does that?), Dez Bryant could face league discipline. According to ESPN Dallas’ Todd Archer, there’s a “decent chance” that Bryant could face a one game suspension, even though he has never been arrested before. Archer does also say that “it’s possible Bryant does not miss a game.” Either way, it doesn’t sound like it will be a lengthy suspension. Archer, one of the country’s best beat writers, also says that the NFL will let the legal process play out some first, before deciding on punishment.

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Cowboys’ wide receiver Dez Bryant was arrested today on misdemeanor domestic violence charges. This is a major red mark on an offseason that was so far going so well for Bryant, as he got himself into the best shape of his career and earned praise from several prominent people, including Owner/GM Jerry Jones, who praised the former 1^st round pick’s maturity.

Contrary to popular belief, Bryant has never actually been arrested before, but he does have a bad reputation for several reasons and Roger Goodell has shown that he’ll factor in reputation when assessing potential discipline, especially with big name athletes, like he did with Ben Roethlisberger. Bryant still looks primed for a big fantasy season as a 3^rd year receiver (that’s the breakout year), so it’s worth monitoring the situation. Any suspension should drop him in the fantasy rankings.

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The agent for Cowboys unsigned franchise player Anthony Spencer confirmed today what many had been speculating for months, that his client will not be receiving a long term deal from the Cowboys. The Cowboys surprisingly slapped Spencer, a former 1st round pick who has never had more than 6 sacks in a season, with the franchise tag earlier this offseason, guaranteeing him 8.856 million this year. Spencer promptly signed the tender, but that’s about where this story ends as not much has happened since.

It appears the Cowboys just franchised him in order to give him a 1 year “prove it” deal. If Spencer doesn’t “prove it,” he may not be back with the team in 2013. Spencer had only 6 sacks, but 9 quarterback hits and 35 quarterback pressures last year, good for a rate of 12.2% on 411 pass rush snaps. He also leads all edge rushers in tackles over the last 3 seasons. For his efforts last year, he was a top-10 player at his position on ProFootballFocus and only James Harrison graded out better against the run at his position.

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According to ESPN Dallas, Cowboys Owner/GM Jerry Jones suggested that Andre Holmes has the inside track to be the Cowboys’ #3 receiver. Behind starters Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, the Cowboys lack any proven depth having lost Laurent Robinson in the offseason. Bryant and Austin have histories of injury problems, so that could be a problem.

Holmes is competing with Kevin Ogletree, who struggled last year when counted on, as well as 2011 6^th round pick Dwayne Harris and 2012 5^th round pick Danny Coale. Holmes was undrafted out of Hillsdale in 2011 and spent last year on the practice squad. He has ideal size at 6-5 223 and could remind some of Miles Austin, a 2006 undrafted free agent out of Monmouth who has become one of the league’s better receivers. Either way, the Cowboys shouldn’t be confident in their wide receiver depth.

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