IRVING, Texas – The outcome had long been decided, but it was curious to see Dez Bryant on the sidelines for the Cowboys’ final possession in Thurday’s 33-14 loss to Carolina.
Dallas got the ball back with 1:41 to play, trailing by 19 points, and ran six plays before turning the ball over on downs. Perhaps the most telling part of the non-descript drive was that Bryant watched it from the bench, equipped with a stocking hat rather than a helmet.
With Tony Romo out for the rest of the season and Bryant coping with several injuries of his own, that sight prompted plenty of questions about whether the Cowboys should sit their star receiver for the rest of the year.