Irving, TX (Sports Network) - As expected, the Dallas Cowboys officially
listed Dez Bryant as questionable for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh
Steelers due to a broken finger the playmaking wide receiver suffered last
week.
For the second consecutive day, Bryant caught a few passes on Friday with his
left hand fitted in a white glove containing a hole for his fractured index
finger to stick out of. The Cowboys' leading receiver has decided to hold off
on surgery with his team still in playoff contention, and vowed earlier in the
week that he would play on Sunday.
Dallas enters Sunday's matchup trailing the New York Giants by one game for
first place in the NFC East with three remaining in the regular season. The
Cowboys are also a game back in the race for the conference's two Wild Card
berths.
Bryant sustained his injury during the fourth quarter of last weekend's game
at Cincinnati, but was able to catch a late touchdown pass that helped spark
Dallas' 20-19 comeback victory over the Bengals. For the season, the 24-year-
old has amassed career bests of 75 catches and 1,028 receiving yards while
scoring nine touchdowns through the first 13 games.
Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who sat out of this week's practice sessions
with a hyperextended elbow, has also been termed as questionable for Sunday's
tilt, though the team expected the All-Pro pass rusher to play while wearing a
brace.
Rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne, meanwhile, is still waiting for clearance
from a concussion he suffered against the Bengals and is questionable as well.
Dallas had already ruled out nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who underwent surgery to
repair a sports hernia on Thursday, for this weekend's test.
The Sports Network