Jason Witten has not yet fully recovered from the lacerated spleen he suffered during a preseason game on Aug. 13, but he desperately wants to play in the Cowboys season opener against the Giants Wednesday night. Witten is listed as doubtful for the game, but he made the trip to New York with the team. He reportedly wants to play so badly that he’s willing to put his signature on it.
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Witten has told the Cowboys multiple times that he is willing to sign a medical waiver absolving the team’s doctors and medical staff of any liability if he re-injured his spleen on Wednesday night. A CT can has reportedly showed that the spleen has healed, but doctors have urged the team to take caution. The Cowboys are not willing to make a decision on Witten’s status based on a waiver.
Prior to this summer, Witten had not missed an offseason practice in his entire career. In fact, a rare predicament almost caused him to miss his first back in June but he arrived to camp just in time. Witten takes conditioning very seriously and has missed only one game during his entire nine-year career — during his rookie season.
The Cowboys Pro Bowl tight end has been a model of durability throughout his career, but the team has to be smart. There is still a long season ahead of Dallas and Witten will be more important to the team down the line than he is in Week 1.
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