Updated: September 16, 2011, 12:19 PM ET
Dez Bryant doesn't practice
By Tim MacMahon
ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Thursday that he expects receiver Dez Bryant to play Sunday in San Francisco.
A day later, Jones said he isn't certain about that.
Bryant has not practiced this week due to a bruised quadriceps suffered on a punt return in the first quarter of last week's loss to the New York Jets. Bryant, who also suffered cramps during the game and was shut out after making three catches for 71 yards and a touchdown on Dallas' first two drives, was clearly bothered by the injury and jogged many of his pass routes in the second half.
"We're going to have to monitor that and are monitoring it," Jones said during a Friday morning appearance on KRLD-FM, the team's flagship station. "He didn't practice the last couple of days, but we'll see how he does today and of course we've got at least 48 hours before kickoff time. Hopefully he'll feel better as we get closer to Sunday."
Bryant, a 2010 first-round pick who missed the final four games of last season with a broken fibula, said Thursday afternoon that he's "feeling good" and planned to practice Friday. However, Bryant was not on the field during the media access portion of Friday's practice.
"We're hopeful he'll continue to improve on his rehab and hopefully be ready to go on Sunday afternoon," coach Jason Garrett said Friday.
Garrett does not have a rule about players needing to practice during the week to play in a game. He makes those decisions on an individual basis.
"He's capable of making game-winning plays for us without that [practice] rep," Jones said Thursday. "While we want him to evolve and do the things you do with experience, if he's healthy, he's valuable to us."
Tim MacMahon covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com.
Follow Tim MacMahon on Twitter: @espn_macmahon