Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten will practice Saturday for the first time since suffering a lacerated spleen during the team's preseason opener against the Oakland Raiders, Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas reports.
Witten has not yet been cleared for contact, so Archer adds that Witten will likely be held out of plays during the Cowboys' preparations for Wednesday night's game against the New York Giants.
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Witten has missed just one game during his career and his streak of 139 consecutive games, second-longest among active NFL tight ends -- Justin Snow and Brian Jennings (192 each) are long-snappers -- could be in jeopardy.
Earlier this week, head coach Jason Garrett said that whether or not Witten plays is up to the medical staff.
"Ultimately, it's a medical decision and we're going to go off what the doctor says," Garrett said. "I'm going to follow it as the head coach of the team. Jason's going to follow it as a player on the team. He certainly has a say in it.
"He's a unique guy. There's been a lot of times in his career where you say, 'Wow, he probably can't play this week' -- and sure enough, he plays a full game, 70 plays on offense and involved in the kicking game."
If Witten is unable to play against the Giants, and the Cowboys do not bring in any reinforcements, John Phillips and rookie James Hanna would be the only two tight ends available Wednesday night.
Follow Brian McIntyre on Twitter _@brianmcintyre_.
