ALLEN PARK -- Injured Detroit Lions receiver Nate Burleson said he's been ruled out for this week's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

But he's begun lifting weights, and says it's "reasonable" to expect him to return after next week's bye. Detroit travels to face the Chicago Bears on Nov. 10.

Lions receiver Nate Burleson is nearing a return, possibly as early as the first game after the bye.

"I'm close," Burleson said Tuesday. "Not going to play this weekend, but I got faith in my guys we'll get this victory, go into the bye at 5-3, get healthy and come back. Cross your fingers, and we'll attack the second half of the season.

"(Jim) Schwartz is going to jump down my throat if I try to give you any dates. But (the Bears game is) a reasonable target. I'm trying to get back as soon as I can."

Burleson broke his left forearm in two places during a September auto accident on I-696 in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills. He was distracted by deep-dish pizza that was sliding off his passenger seat, hit his brakes and fishtailed into the median.

He was Detroit's leading receiver at the time with 19 catches.

The initial outlook wasn't promising, but it now appears Burleson will return in time for the second half of the season. He's run in some drills at practice, even catching footballs with his right hand.

Now he's in the weight room -- albeit with light weights -- starting to rebuild strength in the arm.

"I've been attacking my lower body hard since I got hurt, so now I'm starting to balance it out," Burelson said.

Burleson's return will bolster depth among the receiver ranks, where only Kris Durham has stepped up among secondary receivers. Ryan Broyles has been ineffective and Patrick Edwards was demoted to the practice squad.

Detroit has went so far as to sign receiver Kevin Ogletree, after he was released from Tampa Bay, and promoted Jeremy Ross from the practice squad.

Burleson says he hopes to hit the ground running -- literally.

"This is the freshest I've felt since before training camp," Burleson said. "So when I come back, I plan to utilize that as my strength, because there's going to be a lot of guys banged up -- defenders that are going to be facing me.

"I'm going to be a lot fresher, and I have to go out there and show it."