All Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten did Sunday against the New York Giants was set an NFL record for most catches in a game by a tight end in league history.
Yet to Cowboys’ head coach Jason Garrett, it wasn’t even the most impressive thing Witten’s done this year. Witten hauled in a league record 18 passes from his tight end position and set a Cowboys franchise record for catches from any position in a game during Sunday’s 29-24 loss to the Giants. But to Garrett, the simple fact Witten was able to play in the season opener against the Giants despite suffering a lacerated spleen in the preseason is much more impressive.
“Don’t talk about 18-catch games. Don’t talk about the records he’s going to break as a receiving tight end and all that. Talk about that Giant game [on Sept. 5], because it was really one of the more remarkable performances I’ve ever seen as a player or coach in this league,” Garrett said, via Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “A guy who was so determined to play, that he was going to play without practicing for the last month with a slightly lacerated spleen. So that’s where it starts.”
For the year, Witten has caught 51 passes for 487 yards and a touchdown. He’s currently on pace for 112 catches on the year, which would be the first 100-plus catch season of his already impressive 10-year career.