"Wide receiver Antonio Bryant was unstoppable at times last year. But shutting him down in the preseason took only a directive from his coach.

Bryant will miss three weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Coach Raheem Morris said Bryant will not play in the preseason as a precaution but will be ready for the season opener Sept. 13 against Dallas.

"We're going to go ahead and work on that knee," Morris said. "We're going to go ahead and scope it, clean that thing out, get him ready for the season. … He was ready to go the other day, ran out there and it swelled up a little on him again. It's just not worth it. Let's get him ready for Dallas. Let's sit him down for three weeks.

"He probably could come back the last preseason game, but I'm probably going to be mentally weak and not play him and just wait for Dallas, and we'll figure that out as we go."

Bryant said he was injured during a night workout Aug. 1 at Raymond James Stadium while trying to recover a fumble. He missed four days of practice but returned Friday and Saturday. Apparently, the knee suffered more swelling. It's the same knee Bryant injured Dec. 8 at Carolina when he torched the Panthers with nine catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

"I told Raheem this is a rest stop," Bryant said. "This is a long road trip and I'm pulling over early to get my stuff together. We don't have a rest stop for another couple of miles. I'm getting mine out of the way now.""