UPDATED 5:15 p.m. ET: Dez Bryant himself has tweeted an not-encouraging update about his injury. "Things was just starting to heat up for me," he said. "I won’t question the man upstairs... this is the ultimate test." The tone suggests he's going to be out for a while.
UPDATED 4:40 p.m. ET: We may not see Dez Bryant in a Saints uniform this year. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the injury-prone wideout was helped off the practice field after suffering could be a torn Achilles. Bryant is undergoing an MRI, but his year will be over before it starts if the test confirms a tear.
Read original story below.
After he turned down a multi-year offer from the Ravens, and a shorter deal with the lowly Browns in the preseason, the New Orleans Saints have signed outspoken wideout Dez Bryant.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport confirmed the news before Dez chimed in:
Rumors of the deal had been percolating since Tuesday night, after Dez reportedly worked out for New Orleans. Despite the fact that he hadn't shown what he can do for a team since leaving the Cowboys, he impressed them enough that they started talks on a deal and finalized a one-year contract Wednesday morning.
Bryant is expected to sign the deal Thursday because he's staying in Dallas for his son's birthday on Wed. He'll wear the same No. 88 he rocked a state over from N'awlins.
The timing of the signing means Bryant will get to take the field when the Saints travel to Dallas for a primetime Thursday night matchup on November 29. He hasn't kept quiet about his old team despite his extended on-field sabbatical.
The Saints just beat the NFL's last undefeated team, the Los Angeles Rams, and sit atop the NFC South at 7-1. Dez will join an already-loaded offensive squad that's second, behind LA, in points per game so far this season, and seventh in passing yards.
All that firepower means a ton of single coverage for Dez, with the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards throwing him the ball, and a coach who seems to understand how to make it all gel.
It's going to be weird for Cowboys fans to see No. 88 lining up against them on Nov. 29.
While most analysts think it's a coup for Dez and the Saints, others recall what Dallas Dez looked like at the end.
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