Cincinnati Bengals TE Tyler Eifert ruled out; Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant questionable

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys because of a sore back.

Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (knee) did not practice Friday but went through resistance training. He is listed as questionable

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Friday he is hopeful Eifert can be ready for the Oct. 16 game in Week 6 against the New England Patriots. The Bengals will travel to Dallas on Saturday.

Eifert suffered a back injury just as he was recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the Pro Bowl. He practiced Monday but did not practice the rest of the week.

Eifert's ankle injury kept him out of the first four games in 2016 as he rehabbed from May surgery to correct the issue. He looked to be on track to return this week, but the additional back injury pushed back his timetable.

The 26-year-old Eifert, the Bengals' first-round pick in 2013 out of Notre Dame, caught 52 passes for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, a franchise record for TDs by a tight end.

"Some guys can go through a bad run of luck, and I think Tyler has had a bad run of luck," Lewis told reporters Friday. "He's conscientious about his body, conscientious about being a pro, and you love that part about him. That's what Coach (Brian) Kelly told me right away from Notre Dame.

"People questioned certain things about him coming out (for the NFL draft), and Brian assured me that those were kind of false accusations, or they just weren't totally true, and said he would be everything we wanted, and he's been. I think unfortunately he has had some injuries that have kept him out of playing. But he'll overcome them."

The Bengals will again rely on second-year tight end C.J. Uzomah in Eifert's absence. Uzomah has 11 catches for 144 yards and no touchdowns in four games this season.

Bengals backup wide receiver and special teams player James Wright (hamstring) did not practice Friday and is listed as doubtful

For the Cowboys, Bryant continues to recover from a tibial plateau fracture. Bryant missed Week 4 with a fracture below his right knee but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday not to rule him out this week.

Bryant did not practice last week after he sustained the knee injury against the Chicago Bears in Week 3. If he does not play Sunday, Brice Butler would start at receiver for the second straight week.

Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick is likely to miss his third straight game with hamstring strains to both legs. He did not practice the last two days and is listed as questionable. Left tackle Tyron Smith is also listed as questionable but is close to returning after missing the last two games with a back injury.