Latest injury update on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott pushed himself in practice on Thursday. Prescott is recovering from a calf injury that he suffered in the Cowboys’ last game. The Cowboys were on bye last week, so Prescott had some additional time to recover. After he pushed himself on Thursday, Prescott was reportedly sore on Friday morning, leaving his status for Sunday night’s game between the Cowboys and Vikings uncertain.
“Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (calf) was sore this morning after ramping up rehab in Thursday’s practice,” Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus tweeted. “They’ll see what happens today before making a decision. Cooper Rush would start on SNF if Dak can’t go.”
On Thursday, Prescott admitted that whether or not he plays for the Cowboys against the Vikings might not only be his decision. If the Cowboys aren’t willing to risk the long term health of their starting quarterback who has dealt with multiple injuries over the last two years, they could opt to hold him out for another week.
“Knowing this is a long journey and a long season, I don’t necessarily know if this is fully my decision, but I’m just going to keep controlling the things I can to get better,” Prescott said Thursday via ESPN’s Todd Archer. “I’ve gotten better each and every day, and that’s what is most important. I’m just focused on doing that again tomorrow.”
Prescott must “cross the threshold” to start for the Cowboys against the Vikings
Earlier in the week, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said that Prescott needs to cross certain thresholds to be able to play against the Vikings.
“They didn’t tell me which ones I’ve got to pass,” Prescott said. “Obviously I trust myself, trust my body, trust what I’m thinking, but also I trust the coaches and Britt, Jim [Maurer] and the whole training staff. We’ve put a lot into this. I’ve put a lot into my body and taking care of myself.
“But they know. They know how these things work. First time dealing with something like this, obviously on the same leg as my ankle, I want to be smart about it and cautious. But as I’ve said, I’ve gotten better each and every day. I’m doing things today I didn’t do as well the day before. I think that’s huge.”
Prescott wanted to push himself on Thursday to get more of an idea on where he truly stands in his recovery.
“Today I pushed it. Today, yeah, I didn’t go half or 75% — I went all and I just told myself that if something was going to happen, I’m going to do it today,” he said. “But I needed to feel the full go and I did that.”
With or without Prescott, the Cowboys travel to take on the Vikings at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday night.