Bryant injury puts even more pressure on Cowboys' rookie backfield

For the second time in as many years, the Dallas Cowboys could find themselves taking the field without both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.

Romo's recovery from a preseason back injury is thought to have him facing a recovery timeline that will carry at least through the Week 7 bye, and it appears possible that Bryant will now miss action due to a hairline fracture in his knee.

An exact timeline for the wideout's recovery has yet to be made clear, and the Cowboys are holding out hope that he plays Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, but early reports indicate he could be facing an absence of up to three weeks.

The good news for a Dallas team right in the thick of the NFC East race is that the roster is far better equipped to handle such losses than it was this time last year. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott deserve any and all credit for that after showing well through their three games.

Uncertainty, however, lies in the fact that it's the same pair of rookies taking on even more responsibility if Bryant indeed misses time in the weeks ahead.

Prescott looked nothing like a rookie quarterback during his few starts, demonstrating poise and control at the helm of a productive offense. His seamless transition to the NFL has led many to compare the Cowboys' situation to that of the New England Patriots with Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady back in 2001.

How does that change if he's without one of the NFL's rare players capable of dominating one-on-one matchups on the outside?

Elliott has shown flashes of the player the Cowboys thought they were getting at No. 4 overall, and there's little reason to believe that he doesn't have what it takes to contribute as the centerpiece of an offensive attack long term.

But without a receiver capable of commanding double coverage and safety help over the top, the first-year running back can expect to face a heavy dose of eight-man fronts. Even the best of offensive lines can struggle against such a numbers disadvantage in the box.

If what we've seen from Prescott and Elliott to this point can be taken as any indication, it's entirely possible that both players overcome these difficult circumstances and continue to impress.

Perhaps the backfield mates will be going head-to-head for offensive rookie of the year honors by season's end.

But it would be unfair to suggest that the potential multi-week absence of a receiver that impacts the game like Bryant doesn't make matters infinitely more difficult for the young backfield duo.

Staying afloat during an upcoming stretch against the Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, and the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles is imperative to ensuring that Dallas is still playing meaningful games when the roster takes shape as originally intended.

Are Prescott and Elliott ready for the real test?