Saints Confirms Dez Bryant Tore His Achilles on Friday

Dez Bryant in 2017. Photo by Shane Roper/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (9201830a)

The New Orleans Saints confirmed Dez Bryant tore his Achilles tendon on Friday and could remain sidelined for the rest of the season.

Bryant was signed by the Saints on Tuesday and Thursday was his second day at practice. On Friday, the 30-year-old tore his Achilles tendon while doing a routine run. Although the wide receiver is yet to have an official scan, club doctors already believe Bryant’s Achilles is torn and fear he could remain sidelined for the rest of the season.

If Bryant’s injury woes continue, it will be a big blow to the wide receiver who had just started rebuilding his career since he was waived by the Cowboys in April. The 30-year-old signed a lucrative extension with Dallas in 2015, one year after making it to the All-Pro team in 2014.

However, Bryant failed to impress the Cowboys between 2016 and 2017 and was ultimately released in April. He visited the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens during the offseason for contract negotiations but did not make any commitments until Tuesday.

While speaking to reporters, the wide receiver heaped praise at Saints’ Drew Brees and said the players at New Orleans were one reason he chose to join the club.

“For one, who wouldn’t want to play with Drew Brees?” Bryant asked reporters. “Not taking away from nobody else, but a guy like Drew Brees. Like I said, you got a guy like Michael Thomas, Watson, Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram—you got those types of guys—little baby GOATS around here.”

How the Saints performs henceforth remains to be seen, but what’s clear is that they need to add depth to their wide receiver position.