Jason Witten's return to the NFL might last beyond this season.
The tight end left the broadcast booth to return to the Cowboys, and he hinted Wednesday that he might play beyond 2019.
“I think there’s some gas in the tank,” Witten told WFAA at the SMU Athletic Forum.
The 36-year-old is an 11-time Pro Bowl player. He enters his 16th NFL season with 1,152 career catches for 12,448 yards and 68 touchdowns. He said Wednesday he wasn't sure how long he'll continue to play.
“I think it’s still up in the air,” Witten said. “You’ve got to let it play out. Look, it’s a show me game, and I approach it like I’m a rookie because those 1,100 catches don’t matter. I truly feel I’ve got to prove it, and not with a chip on my shoulder or anything like that, but you’ve got to go show it. That’s the challenge.”
Witten is fourth on the NFL's all-time reception list, trailing only Jerry Rice, Tony Gonzalez and Larry Fitzgerald. But, he's not concerned about individual accomplishments.
"I'm envisioning holding Lombardi Trophies and competing for championships," Witten said.
The Cowboys won the NFC East and posted a 10-6 record in 2018. Running back Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL in rushing for the second time in his three-year career and Dallas traded for an elite downfield threat in wideout Amari Cooper.
If Witten isn't a factor on the field, he could be an asset as a veteran in the locker room for years to come.