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IRVING, Texas - In just his sixth season with the team, Jason Witten has already earned a reputation as one of the toughest players in Cowboys history. He has nothing to prove.
And that's what leads one to believe this sprained foot he suffered against the Redskins on Sunday might really be bad enough to keep the tight end out of Thursday's matchup with the Oakland Raiders. If it was as simple as Witten toughing through some pain, there wouldn't be this much doubt regarding his status for the Thanksgiving Day game.
On Wednesday's final injury report leading up to the contest, Witten was the only Cowboy listed as questionable. Other players banged up against the Redskins, including Tony Romo, Keith Brooking and Mike Jenkins, were all deemed probable. Speaking on Dallas' The Fan (105.3 FM) on Wednesday, Witten confirmed his availability for the holiday classic is still very much a game-time decision after practicing on a limited basis Tuesday and Wednesday.
"We're hoping so for sure," Witten said. "We felt good out there, and it's a short week, so trying to mentally get prepared and get some blood flow going out there and move around. We'll see tomorrow how we're feeling."
Despite suffering the foot sprain in the first half of Sunday's game, it was a surprise to see Witten's name pop up on the Monday injury report, especially considering the two first down catches he had on the Cowboys' game-winning drive.
The decision on whether Witten can play will fall at several sets of feet - his own, the Cowboys doctors' and those of head coach Wade Phillips.
"It's a combination," Witten said. "Obviously our training staff does a great job, and obviously Wade's very involved in all that stuff, so it's an open line of communication, just all three of us together. They do a great job for you and give you the best chance you can to play."
Witten has likely played through injury more times than the public even realizes during his career. He showed grit most notably as a rookie in 2003, coming back to play following only one game missed with a fractured jaw, the only time he's sat out a contest as a pro. Just last season he played against the Giants with a broken rib.
Given Witten's ability to withstand pain, Phillips has to keep in mind the possibility that his tight end could still do further damage to the foot. Phillips called Witten a "trooper" on Tuesday, and said he knows the five-time Pro Bowler will do everything he can to play.
"It's a little harder with guys like that, because they want to play so bad," the coach said. "You have to rely on him to a certain extent, but also the medical people and what they say.
"He's getting therapy and as many treatments as you can get. We'll see how he feels. He's gone through both practices, basically some, a limited amount, and he's moved around. We'll just see."
Phillips said the Cowboys worked backup tight end Martellus Bennett as if he would be a starter this week, and the team wanted playing as a first-teamer to be his mindset no matter what. Bennett said the workload won't be much greater if Witten plays or not, since the Cowboys run so many two-tight end formations and the two players know one another's position since they often flip.
If Witten is unable to go, there would be some adjustments necessary for the Cowboys' offense. While rookie John Phillips has received plenty of playing time as an H-back or fullback, his looks at tight end have been scarce.
Without Witten, Romo would lose his most trusted receiving option during a week when the quarterback has problems of his own - consecutive poor games for the offense and a sore back.
Romo was listed as limited in two of the week's three practices but had full participation Wednesday. After taking a knee to the back while making a tackle on Sunday he finished the game, and, speaking shortly thereafter, declared he would be playing against the Raiders despite the quick turnaround.
Wednesday he was much more concerned about Witten's status than problems caused by his own injury.
"If Jason's not out there that's a drop-off, no question," Romo said. "But we're going to do the same things we do, and hopefully just improve at them, get better at them. We'll have to account for some things, everyone's going to have to pick it up if Jason doesn't go, but I don't know. I don't know what the decision's going to be there.
"Jason's a tough guy, I know that. So if he can go, he'll go, definitely."
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Josh Ellis - 
