Dez Bryant won't officially be active for the Dallas Cowboys until game time Sunday, but the optimism flowing from Valley Ranch is overwhelming.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told KRLD-FM on Friday that the team "feels really good" about Bryant's availability against the Seattle Seahawks, but added that the team will monitor the receiver's snap count in his first action since Week 1.
"To say that he's full blast might be a stretch," Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News. "... I do think he's well enough that he can go in there and help us this weekend, and feel like he will do (that), barring any setbacks between now and the start of the game."
Earlier in the day Bryant was asked about whether the Cowboys could keep him on a 'pitch count' or 'snap count' if he dresses, "we'll just have to see about that," the wideout replied. Bryant is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's contest.
"If I go out there, I'm not going out there to paint. I'm going out there to play football," he added later.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported early Sunday that Bryant would play, barring a setback.
Bryant doesn't sound to keen on being shuffled in and out of the lineup. However, Jason Garrett won't just toss his Pro Bowl receiver back into the deep end against the Legion of Boom.
"Any time a player hasn't played in a little while, you want to ease him back into the action to a certain extent," Garrett said Friday. "You can't ease him into the action on a play. You have to go full speed on every play, but you monitor how he's handling the work. With him or any guy, you're always just mindful of that."
That we are even talking about snap counts in Bryant's case is a positive sign for his availability Sunday afternoon in Seattle. With their season spiraling, the Cowboys need all the offensive weapons they can muster.