Dez Bryant Injury: Cowboys WR Injures Right Knee, Will Get MRI

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant reportedly injured his right knee Monday while participating in a one-on-one drill in a practice session with the San Diego Chargers.

The injury, which is the second Bryant has dealt with during 2012 training camp, could not come at a worse time as the Cowboys are also without star receiver Miles Austin, who has been dealing with chronic hamstring problems dating back to last season and is expected to miss the entire preseason.

In addition to Bryant and Austin, another Dallas receiver, Andre Holmes, didn’t practice because his back tightened up, and rookie receiver Donavon Kemp had an MRI after leaving practice with a left knee injury.

Following Bryan’s premature exit from practice Monday, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said that his athlete would undergo an MRI but remained hopeful that the injury wasn’t too severe. In his star’s absence, the coach pointed out how important it was that that other receivers the team step up.

“Miles and Dez are our slated starters for this season,” Garrett told ESPN. “But we’ve talked many times already, injuries provide opportunity, and guys just need to step up and we have some young players who played well at that position (in second preseason game). When they get chances in practice, they got to take advantage of them and when they get a chance to play this week, they got to take advantage of it.”

Drafted in 2010 with the 24th overall pick, Dez Bryant pulled in 45 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season before injuring his ankle.

In 2011 the 23-year-old upped his game, snagging 63 passes for 928 yards and 9 touchdowns.