IRVING, Texas -- James Hanna still had the small bandages on the inside of his left knee after undergoing arthroscopic surgery last Saturday, but he could practice by the end of the week.

"I'm not injured anymore," Hanna said. "I'm just recovering from the incision in my knee is all. I feel good. I just feel like they also cut into my knee."

In the real world, such a proclamation would never be made. In the NFL, it's part of life. In the Dallas Cowboys' tight end room it's just how it is.

Hanna has been Jason Witten's teammate since 2012. He has seen all of the different maladies Witten has played through from a lacerated spleen to a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee to a strained hamstring and many more bumps, bruises and nicks nobody knew anything about.

Yet Witten, 33 and in his 13th year, keeps going.

Now there are questions about his availability Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons because of sprained left and right ankles and a sprained knee suffered in last week's win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Spotted on Monday coming out of the team's MRI offices, Witten was limping badly. It was a startling sight because he has been practically indestructible.

He has played in 189 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL for a non-kicker/punter. He has started 133 straight games, by far the longest active streak among tight ends. How far beyond is Witten's streak? Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is second at 50 games.

Witten sprained an ankle in the first half and came off the field briefly. Later he did his other ankle. And then his knee. Each time the team's medical staff talked to him, looked at him quickly and soon he was running back on the field.

The Cowboys had 85 offensive snaps against the Eagles and Witten played 82. He led the Cowboys with seven catches for 56 yards after catching eight passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner, in Week 1 against the New York Giants.

"He does it all the time," Hanna said. "Like this is a perfect example. He's on another level. I just don't know how he does it. He just puts it out of his mind and doesn't think about it or something. Just the amount of toughness he has, because you know he has to feel it. It has to be terrible and he's just no excuses. Does his job."

It's not clear whether he will be able to practice today. If he does, he likely will be limited. He might be limited for the entire week if he practices at all.

The only game that he has missed was Oct. 12, 2003, Week 5 of his rookie season. He suffered a broken jaw the previous week against the Arizona Cardinals but was back on the field Oct. 19 despite losing so many pounds that he snuck rolls of coins into his sweatpants in order to make sure he made weight. His coach, Bill Parcells, tried to convince him to eat baby food to keep his weight up. It didn't take.

"Witten is a certified war daddy, man," defensive end Jeremy Mincey said. "I have the utmost respect for Wit. Wit just goes out and competes. He plays hard. He plays with passion and desire."

Rookie tight end Geoff Swaim was roughly a month past his 10th birthday the last time Witten missed a game. His coach, Jason Garrett, was still a player in the NFL. The Cowboys' quarterback was Quincy Carter. The team played at Texas Stadium without a speck of dirt moved in Arlington, Texas, for what would become AT&T Stadium.

What would it be like to not having Witten in the huddle?

"It'll be different," left guard Ronald Leary said. "My years, I've always seen him in the huddle. Wit, man, he's one of a kind. You can't replace a Witten. But I know if he can go, 82 will be out there for sure."

On Monday Garrett said he anticipates Witten being able to practice at some point this week and play against the Falcons.

"He's the toughest guy I've ever seen play football," tight end Gavin Escobar said. "I wouldn't bet against him playing on Sunday."

Don't bet against Hanna either. Call it the Witten Effect.