NFL’s Best Tight Jason Witten Starts As Wide Receiver
For the first time in his illustrious career, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten will start as a wide receiver. Sam Hurd, who would have been the third wide receiver, is out with a high-ankle sprain suffered during Thursday’s game against the Vikings.
In fact, Witten is already the second-favorite choice of quarterback Tony Romo, but rarely is Witten playing in the slot.
What this also means is rookie Martellus Bennett, who came around in the second half of training camp to impress coaches enough to think he can start right away, should see some significant playing time at tight end. Bennett, a jester of a player who stole the show on HBO’s Hard Knocks series, started off looking irritable, lazy and childish.
But tight ends coach John Garrett was all over Bennett and pushed his buttons all through camp. It seemed that in the third week of camp and that third preseason game, Bennett started to turn a new leaf. Now, he should play against Cleveland in the opening game on Sept. 7. It’s a risky move putting Bennett in this role so quickly, but the Cowboys lost two receivers who were competing for that third slot.
I would assume Tony Curtis is the starting TE and MB would be situational
August 29th, 2008 at 8:55 pmStaubach, I wouldn’t be so sure.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:35 amSo you’re saying that he’s making a switch from being the “NFL’s best” tight end to becoming an average #2 wide receiver? No, they’re not desperate for receivers at all out there in Dallas. Nope. They’re going to ask Dan to come to tryouts next week I hear.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:55 amI think this is a great move, its putting all of our best players on the field at once. How could we not when with that setup. Wittens better than 90 percent of the recievers out there anyways, and Bennett is looking like he could be a pro bowl talent.
August 30th, 2008 at 2:03 pmi say watch out for felix jones to be the slot wr in passing situations. they said they wanted to get felix on the field the same time barber is on. felix is not barbers backup. he is a change of pace, a “reggie bush” type back. acctually tashard choice is the backup to barber. look on the real cowboy depth charts.
August 30th, 2008 at 4:08 pmI really liked your blog with the Cowboys mention! A Super Bowl maybe this year?!?
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:56 am