Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant wants his impact to extend beyond the confines of the team’s offense. He wants to return punts again.
Bryant spent some time receiving punts during OTAs and told reporters he’s trying to get his team to sign off on letting him do it during the regular season.
“I’m always in Coach Bisaccia’s ear,” Bryant said, via Jon Machota of SportsDay. “That’s why I’m back there practicing. I’m going to get me one of them, I’m telling you. I’m going to crib it. I’m telling you I’m going to score.”
Since the electric star entered the league back in 2010, he’s primarily been utilized as a receiver only. But back during his rookie campaign, he led the NFL with 14.3 yards per return and scored twice on punt returns.
There is no doubt he’s still one of the most dynamic players in the league with the ball in his hands. But the Cowboys won’t dare risk Bryant’s already sketchy health on special teams. He’s far too valuable on offense to risk on a play in which there are 11 players on the opposing team hunting him down with running starts from the other side of the field.
It’s far more likely rookie Ryan Switzer will be called upon to return punts for the ‘Boys in 2017. If not him, then the job will likely fall to Lucky Whitehead, who’s returned 44 punts the past two seasons.