OXNARD, Calif. -- Dez Bryant knows his sprained right ankle will be ready for the regular season. He's pretty sure he'll be able to test it in the preseason finale.
Maybe even two preseason games.
"I feel I got a big shot," the Dallas Cowboys' rookie wide receiver said Saturday. "Hopefully, if I feel real good, I'm going to get in their ear, beg them to get back on the field."
When Bryant was hurt July 30, he was told he could miss up to six weeks, which would have wiped out his entire preseason. But his recovery has gone well enough that his return could be closer to the short end of the time frame, which would let him play Sept. 2 against the Miami Dolphins, and perhaps Aug. 28 against the Houston Texans.
"He's doing well, and we expected him to do well, by the way," team owner Jerry Jones said. "We had expectations, and I am hopeful we will have him back for those last two preseason games."
Bryant wore a walking boot on the sideline Thursday night, watching the Cowboys fail to score a touchdown during a loss to the Oakland Raiders. He received the clearance to shed the boot Saturday morning and was wearing cleats during both practices. He's doing aerobic work like "a little power walk" on a treadmill and some rehabilitative exercises.
"I felt pain free," he said. "I hope they have something harder for me because what I'm doing now is kind of light. ... The only thing that's hard about it is just watching the other guys run routes, knowing I can't be out there to help."
Sharply changing directions when he runs is pretty much the final hurdle to clear.
"I can't cut the way I want to," Bryant said. "It doesn't give out. I don't get enough push. I haven't really found out anyway. I'm not really trying to, but I just don't have it. I've got to work back into that."
Once he believes he's ready, Bryant must convince a lot of other people in the organization -- doctors and trainers, coaches and management.
The dilemma is that if Bryant returns too soon, there's more of a chance for a setback, perhaps turning this into a problem that bothers him all season. Wait too long, though, and he'll miss even more practice time. Bryant needs it as much as any rookie since he played only three games last season at Oklahoma State.
"I just want to get the feel for the game," he said.
Taking the boot off was a big deal for Bryant, both as a sign of progress and the practical benefit of not using the clunky thing.
"(When) the trainer told me I didn't have to wear it, I had the biggest grin on my face that I have had in a long time," he said. "I am healing real fast."
And the injury hasn't dimmed Bryant's expectations for this season.
"I still feel like I can help out," he said. "I will be able to help out and do the things I have been doing."
Bryant received a rough initiation into the off-the-field side of the game when he refused to carry veteran wide receiver Roy Williams' shoulder pads. Things have been patched up since, especially with Bryant doing things like giving new Jordan brand sneakers to all his fellow receivers and buying a copy of the new Madden video game for Williams.
"I did that out of the kindness of my heart. It didn't have anything to do with rookie hazing," Bryant said. "I just want to build a great relationship with those guys. I want things to be right. I feel like we've got some great chemistry, can't nothing break that."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
