Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott wants to play vs. Vikings, but 'not fully my decision'

Dak Prescott wants to play on Sunday night for the Dallas Cowboys against the Minnesota Vikings. Prescott suffered a calf injury in the last Cowboys game, and he had the last week to recover as the team was on bye. While he has made progress in his return, Prescott’s availability for Sunday night is uncertain.

If it were up to him, Prescott would be on the field when the Cowboys take on the Vikings. The team could potentially opt to hold him out to ensure he is fully healthy down the stretch. But Prescott is only focused on controlling what he can control.

“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 look good in practice to play for the Cowboys against the Vikings

Prescott needs to “cross the threshold” set by head coach Mike McCarthy in order to suit up for the Cowboys on Sunday against the Vikings. The exact details of that threshold is unknown, but it’s clear that McCarthy doesn’t want to rush his star quarterback back to action.

“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 is having an MVP-caliber season thus far for the Cowboys. He has completed 73.1 percent of his passes through six games, throwing for 1,813 yards, 16 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Vikings, Prescott said that he “pushed” things in Cowboys practices.

“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.”

The Cowboys and Vikings are set for an 8:20 p.m. kickoff on Sunday Night Football in Minnesota.