The Dallas Cowboys are screwed, and it has to do with the health of Dak Prescott.
All hope really might be lost for the Dallas Cowboys this season.
The injury that prematurely ruled the Cowboys quarterback out of the club’s Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons has somehow gotten even worse than initially thought.
According to NFL Network’s Jane Slater, Dak Prescott suffered a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon based on an initial examination.
As the #Cowboys weigh in on Dak Prescott’s IR status, sources tell me the initial diagnosis is a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon which is partially torn off the bone. I’m told it typically takes more than a 4 week recovery. In some cases, they let it scar over, repair…
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) November 6, 2024
Recovery time typically lasts more than four weeks, which is the minimum stay required for an injured reserve stint.
Even if he were healthy, there’s a chance that the Cowboys wouldn’t be playing for anything at that point in the year.
This will be a hard pill to swallow for a team that has won 12 games each year for the past three seasons.
Where Do The Dallas Cowboys Go From Here With Dak Prescott Down?
After suffering an injured hamstring late in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Falcons, Dak Prescott appears to be headed to the injured reserve list, according to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Should that happen, the Cowboys $240 million quarterback will miss at least four games, including three that are set to air in national broadcast windows.
This is the worst possible time since the team is 3-5 and needs to fight like hell to save its season.
If that proves to be the case with Dak Prescott, he won’t be eligible to suit up again until Dallas’ Dec. 9 Monday Night Football matchup against the Bengals.
Without Prescott, Dallas will turn to veteran backup Cooper Rush to start under center.
He does have success as the 30-year-old has a career record of 5-1 as a starter, including a 4-1 run in 2022.
Dak Prescott’s injury tore tendon off bone
The details of Dak Prescott’s injury are in, and they’re not for the faint of heart.
Per NFL Network’s Jane Slater, the Cowboys quarterback appears to have suffered a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon, partially tearing it right off the bone. ESPN’s Todd Archer later said his source confirmed that diagnosis.
Head coach Mike McCarthy had already ruled Prescott out for Sunday’s home matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, but- despite owner Jerry Jones hinting that a subsequent move to injured reserve was imminent– the Cowboys have not made any official determination about a timeline for his return.
According to Slater’s sources, the injury typically “takes more than a four-week recovery,” but Prescott is said to be seeking secondary opinions. The team is therefore allowing that process to play out further before placing Prescott on IR, which would automatically mean a four-game absence.
“In some cases,” Slater posted on X, “they let it scar over, repair and then strengthen.” But, she said on-air Wednesday evening, the injury could require surgery, depending on its severity.
Prescott told reporters he “felt something” on a scramble late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 27-21 loss to Atlanta. After the sack by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss, Prescott went back to the huddle and ran the next play.
Upon trying to step into a cross-field throw, however, he pulled up noticeably.
“I felt a pull, felt something I’ve never felt,” Prescott explained.
He lasted one more play to finish the offense’s drive and then did not return for the Cowboys’ next possession.
Backup Cooper Rush finished the Week 9 contest and has been tabbed as the starter this weekend, but third-string option Trey Lance may figure into the mix, too, even if only on a handful of gadget-type plays or run situations.
