Source: Hakeem Nicks among WRs trying out with Cowboys

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys will start the process of replacing Dez Bryant by bringing veteran receivers Hakeem Nicks, Nick Toon, Austin Pettis and Clyde Gates to Valley Ranch for workouts Tuesday, a source told ESPN.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday that the team would add a receiver to help replace Bryant, who is out after undergoing foot surgery. Bryant had a screw inserted to repair a broken fifth metatarsal after suffering the injury in Sunday's win against the New York Giants.

On 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Tuesday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he was disappointed to see Bryant go down.

"I guess I've been in football since I was 5 years old, and so I've always known you never get the hand to play with that you've got on paper and you're always making adjustments," Jones said. "To get to where we want to go, we're going to have to be making them."

Nicks, 27, has the best rsum among the receivers being worked out. The seven-year veteran has 349 catches for 5,027 yards and 31 touchdowns for the Giants and Indianapolis Colts, but he was cut by the Tennessee Titans after catching three passes for 59 yards in the preseason.

In 2012, Nicks had a similar surgery to Bryant's in the offseason after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2010 and '11. He played in 13 games in 2012, finishing with 53 catches for 692 yards and three touchdowns.

Jones would not put a definitive timetable on Bryant's return, but he acknowledged a bone needs six weeks to heal. He said the Cowboys have had players in the past return from this injury sooner than six weeks.

"Dez is of course Superman when it comes to being physical," Jones said. "But on the other hand, we want it to repair well."

If Bryant is a quick healer, he could return for the Oct. 25 rematch with the Giants at MetLife Stadium. However, he could need more time, which would put his return at either Nov. 1 against the Seattle Seahawks or Nov. 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys will not place Bryant on the injured reserve designated to return list, which would keep him out until the Nov. 15 meeting against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Toon was cut by the New Orleans Saints after reaching an injury settlement with an ankle sprain. In the final six games last year, he had 21 catches for 283 yards and a touchdown in the most extended playing time of his career. Pettis went to camp with the San Diego Chargers after a four-year run with the St. Louis Rams.

Gates was among the Cowboys' final cuts after joining the team in training camp.