Cowboys' Stephen Jones expects 'same Dez we saw two years ago'

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant had far and away the worst season of his career in 2015.

Bryant dealt with a contract dispute that held him from participating in much of training camp, and suffered an injury in the season opener that he never quite bounced back from.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones believes those reasons held Bryant back from playing at his desired level, and expects to see No. 88 back in All-Pro form next season.

"I think one of the tough things about last year for Dez, he plays with such energy, that with the contract dispute, if you will, he wasn't around, which is business, and consequently he probably wasn't in his best shape going into the season," Jones told The Dallas Morning News. "Then you start to add the injuries when players aren't in shape and they continued on through training camp and then on into the season and we ended up not having him much last year, so if he can get his rehab done and get himself in top condition, then I think we'll see the same Dez that we saw two years ago."

Bryant had a career high in touchdowns in 2014, and made 88 catches for 1,320 yards through all 16 games en route to his first All-Pro selection.

Jones is confident in his medical staff, and feels that as long as Bryant listens to the trainers and focuses on his rehab, he can only improve.

"I think he's really focused on being around and doing the work and that's important," he said. "His injury requires the rehab and the TLC that our guys give him, (athletic trainers) Britt (Brown) and Jim (Mauer). He's done an outstanding job and been committed to being around and I think that's only getting better."