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Jason Witten hopes to return to the Cowboys, but has accepted the reality that his next opportunity may come elsewhere

Witten expects a decision to be made on his future after next week’s scouting combine.

Jason Witten hopes to end his playing career with the Cowboys.

But he’s braced himself for the reality that it could come somewhere else.

Witten reiterated his stance Tuesday evening at The Star before an award ceremony named in his honor. The leading receiver in franchise history said new head coach Mike McCarthy is aware of his intentions and added that he’s been in constant conversation with Jerry and Stephen Jones in recent weeks.

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It’s Witten’s belief that his future with the club will be determined soon after club officials return from next week’s scouting combine in Indianapolis.

“It’s my hope, I think it’s our hope, to have those talks soon after the combine ends before free agency,’’ Witten said. “I want to play.

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“Of course, I want that to be with the Dallas Cowboys. I will always be a Dallas Cowboy, but I also understand that might mean with all the changes I have to go somewhere else.’’

Witten met with McCarthy shortly after he took over as head coach. At that point, the tight end hadn’t determined if he would return in 2020. He has since gotten word to the former Green Bay coach that he wants to continue his playing career.

“Mike and I met briefly and had a really good talk,’’ Witten said. “I don’t know him really well, he doesn’t know me really well, but I have a lot of admiration for what he’s done in his career.

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“He expressed the same thing.’’

Witten said he’s “talked a lot over the last few weeks’’ to Jerry and Stephen Jones. He assumes McCarthy and his staff are reviewing tape of his performance to determine what, if any, role they will have for Witten going forward.

Witten caught 63 passes for 529 yards and four touchdowns last season. He said he hasn’t “gotten into the weeds’’ with anyone in the organization about what his role, if they do want him to return, would look like.

The 37-year old stressed on several occasions he would love to finish his career with a star on his helmet. But he also understands that’s not in his control.

“I’m not naive enough to think that couldn’t be somewhere else,’’ Witten said of where his playing career will end. “We’ll talk that through as the time comes.’’