Dallas Cowboys News: Jason Witten Could Miss Season Opener Against Giants, Leave Tony Romo Without Another Top Target

The Cowboys could be without one of their biggest weapons to start the 2012 NFL Season.

Jason Witten suffered a spleen injury on Monday in Dallas' first preseason game of the year, and the tight end might not be ready for the regular season.

The Cowboys beat the Raiders 3-0 in the contest. Witten didn't make it past the first quarter, after he was hit by Oakland linebacker Rolando McClain.

According to ESPN's Ed Werder, Witten is uncertain to play against the Giants on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Dallas and New York will open the season four days before the first Sunday of football.

The team hasn't determined the severity of the injury, though they don't think the spleen is ruptured. Witten hopes to avoid surgery, even though he suffered some internal bleeding.

Dallas isn't very deep at tight end, so they could sign another one in the coming days. Martellus Bennet had been the team's backup for the past few years, but he signed with the Giants in the offseason.

Witten has been one of the best players at his position since entering the league in 2003. He has 7,909 career receiving yards in his career, and has registered three 1,000-yard seasons in the past five years.

He becomes yet another one of Tony Romo's targets to go down with an injury. Miles Austin was unable to go against the raiders because of strained hamstring. Wide receiver Dez Bryant made his way onto the field, but he's also battled issues with his hamstring.

First-round draft pick Morris Claiborne was also held out of Monday's contest because of an injury.

Dallas is in action again on Saturday when they take on San Diego.