Dak Prescott Injury Update

The Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott has been sidelined with a calf injury since the fourth quarter of the game against the New York Giants on Dec. 15. Though he is not expected to miss more than two weeks, the injury has raised some questions. The injury does not appear to be serious, and he will probably be able to return to action after participating in full practice on Friday. The question is, can he do so while not being the explosive runner he is?

Dallas Cowboys quarterback dak prescott injured his calf on last play of game against New York Giants on Dec. 15, 2019

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback has been dealing with injuries over the past few years. He suffered a horrific leg injury last year, and also suffered a shoulder injury during training camp this fall. However, he’s confident that he’ll be ready to face the Minnesota Vikings in two weeks.

Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was close to Prescott before the game, and he put his arm around him when he was replaced. The Giants’ staff also included Derek Dooley and Stephen Brown, two Dallas assistants. Then, there was Marc Colombo, who became the offensive line coach after a four-year stint in Dallas. During that time, Prescott was very close to Colombo’s children, and the two were often talking to them or giving them high-fives.

He is playing on the franchise tag through Week 17

The Cowboys tagged quarterback Dak Prescott on Monday, and he will be eligible for free agency after that. Prescott has not signed a contract yet, so it’s unclear if he will participate in training camp and offseason programs. Training camp is tentatively scheduled to begin on April 6, so it’s possible he could attend, but he’s not guaranteed to do so. Many franchised players skip mandatory minicamps and offseason workouts. Last year, Ezekiel Elliott held out of training camp while seeking a new deal. Eventually, he signed an extension before the start of the season.

Prescott has signed a non-exclusive franchise tag, which is cheaper for Dallas. However, it also allows other teams to get involved in negotiations. Dallas wants to avoid this and get a long-term deal done with Prescott. Prescott will likely view that $33 million as his bare minimum annual salary, which limits his flexibility to negotiate with the team.

He will be able to return to action after full participation in Friday’s practice

The Dallas Cowboys expect quarterback Dak Prescott to be able to practice fully again before Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prescott was limited in Thursday’s practice but he’s expected to be a full participant on Friday. Coach Mike McCarthy said after practice that Prescott will be ready for action against Tampa Bay. The quarterback will also practice fully on Saturday.

Prescott is still dealing with a calf injury. The injury occurred during warmups last week in New England. The Cowboys used backup quarterback Justin Rush in the game and he responded with big passing numbers. The Cowboys won the game in a surprisingly upset. Justin Rush also didn’t seem rattled by the attention he’s getting as a rookie. He also utilized the best receiving weapons on the team.

He might not be as explosive or impactful as a runner

In his first start as a starter, Dak Prescott did not have a huge statistical edge and had trouble figuring out how to play the quarterback position. It took him until his fourth season to really get it together. In 2017, he struggled with a stacked offense without Ezekiel Elliott, who missed six games. In addition, he did not have the same type of play-making receivers as Jason Witten, and had to rely more on Cole Beasley and Amari Cooper to get the job done. However, these two players have made their presence felt and have helped Prescott’s game.

While Prescott is not as explosive or impactful as some of the other high-profile NFL quarterbacks, he does offer great value with his legs, especially in the red zone. His passing efficiency numbers are great and he’s more affordable than his competition. However, he lacks the rushing power of Wentz, who recently signed a large contract. If Prescott can stay healthy and avoid injury, he can lead the Cowboys to another NFC East title.

He might be protected from injury

Dak Prescott might be protected from injury, and that’s a good thing. The quarterback has been praised for his toughness, and Schefter noted that last year’s ankle and shoulder injuries were “remarkable.” While Prescott is a natural leader, he does have some issues with ankle injuries.

While Dak Prescott missed last Sunday’s game against the Vikings because of a calf injury, he is expected to start against the Broncos on Sunday. His recovery from the calf injury has been smooth so far, but initial reports are mixed. It may be a minor strain, but Prescott’s time off could be extended.