IRVING, Texas -- With all that Jason Witten has accomplished in his career -- seven Pro Bowls, 729 receptions, 8,229 yards -- he puts a two-catch, 10-yard performance in the season opener at the New York Giants at the top.

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“Even though it didn’t really show it in the stats, that was probably one of my more proud games just because of the mindset going into that,” Witten said, “and being able to be an energy boost for your team in a situation to start the season off.”

Witten suffered a lacerated spleen Aug. 13 at Oakland and did next to nothing leading into the regular season. He was only cleared to play against the Giants the night before the game by a specialist in New York.

Witten had as many catches as penalties, but his presence played a big part in Kevin Ogletree catching eight passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

“We had a complete plan in place without him playing, with a different person playing his role,” coach Jason Garrett said. “It was a tremendous effort and achievement on his part to play in that game. I think it speaks to the player maybe more than anything else than I can point to in my time being with him. He was so bound and determined to play in that game. It is hard to be yourself when you have a lacerated spleen and you haven’t practiced in a month and then to go out there and do what he did, but that’s who he is and over the course of the next couple of weeks he got himself back to the player we’re used to seeing.”

Witten has 33 catches for 320 yards and a touchdown after a slow start to the season, putting him on pace for 88 catches.

In 19 games against the Giants, Witten has 83 catches for 933 yards and six touchdowns.

“I’ll obviously be a lot more active than I was that first game,” Witten said.