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Jason Witten retired after the 2017 NFL season. Elsa/Getty Images

The Dallas Cowboys (7-5) are evidently desperate to make a serious playoff push. ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter on Sunday dropped a bombshell that head coach Jason Garrett made "multiple attempts" to lure tight end Jason Witten out of retirement in 2018.

Schefter noted that the Cowboys reached out to Witten in "recent weeks," but the 36-year-old resisted the requests. Starting tight end Geoff Swaim has not played since Nov. 18 due to a wrist injury.

Witten, who joined the Cowboys in 2003 and retired in 2017, currently serves as an analyst on "Monday Night Football," which is broadcasted on ESPN. Witten played in all 16 games in 2017, finishing with 560 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

The Cowboys, who added wide receiver Amari Cooper before the trade deadline, are riding a four-game winning streak. The current streak has kept Dallas in the hunt the playoff hunt after the Cowboys had slipped to 3-5.

Dallas remains in a tight race in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles (6-6). The two teams meet Sunday in Arlington, Texas.