Dez Bryant wants to play with fractured index finger

The Dallas Cowboys are riding a two-game winning streak, but they could be chasing the playoffs without their best wide receiver.

Tony Romo

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport confirmed DallasCowboys.com writer Nick Eatman's report, via a team source, that Dez Bryant could miss the rest of the season with an injured finger that might require surgery. Tests showed Bryant has a fractured left index finger, a source who has spoken with the player later told Rapoport.

The Cowboys currently are evaluating Bryant's injury, but he "wants to play through it," the source told Rapoport. Eatman reported that Bryant playing through the injury, albeit with the finger heavily taped, could be an option.

Bryant was injured sometime before his 27-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Bryant played through the pain and told Rapoport after the game it was just a sprained finger.

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NFL Replay will re-air the Dallas Cowboys' 20-19 win over the Cincinnati  Bengals in Week 14 on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

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Bryant has developed dangerous chemistry with quarterback Tony Romo in the past month. Over the Cowboys' last five games, four of which were wins, Bryant has 525 yards and seven touchdowns on 33 catches. Losing him for the rest of the season would amount to a devastating setback for a 7-6 Dallas team that's still alive in the NFC East race and battling for position in the conference playoff picture.

Bryant's 75 catches on the season are second to only tight end Jason Witten's 92, and the receiver's 1,028 yards and nine TDs lead a team that has no replacement for a player of his caliber.

Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.