When will Dak Prescott come back to action? Exploring Cowboys star's return timeline as QB forced to stay on IR
The Dallas Cowboys suffered another blow to their already ailing season after it was announced that the hamstring injury Dak Prescott picked up last week in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons will place him on injured reserve. That means that he is going to be out of action for at least the next four weeks.
Cowboys executive Stephen Jones confirmed that he does not see Dak Prescott returning from the injury within four weeks and that is why they have put him on injured reserve to free up a roster spot. However, the part about the news that makes it even worse is that it could be more.
There is a likelihood that Prescott could be out for six weeks or even the season. Dallas is already 3-5 for this season and facing an uphill battle to make the playoffs. Now, they will have to do so without their franchise quarterback, whom they gave the largest contract in NFL history this offseason.
Whether Prescott will be out for the season will depend on if he has to go for surgery to repair his hamstring. If he does, then he will definitely be out.
However, with multiple sources saying that six to eight weeks is a normal timeline to recover even without that, and considering we are already in Week 10 of an 18-week regular season with qualification for the postseason looking unlikely, there is a chance that Prescott will not suit up again this year.
What happened to Cowboys QB Dak Prescott?
Dak Prescott pulled a hamstring when throwing in the game against the Falcons last week against the Cowboys. He was seen grimacing and was taken out of the game.
It has since been reported that he has suffered a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon, which means that it has partially torn off the bone. That is not something that heals in a short period.
Dallas currently has no need to rush the quarterback either because they look unlikely to make the playoffs this season. They are third in their division behind the Commanders and the Eagles, and also far behind other Wild Card competitors in the NFC.
That is not to say it is impossible, though, and backup quarterback Cooper Rush will now get the opportunity to lead the team for an extended time. This will allow the Cowboys brass to evaluate him while Dak Prescott is out, and the player will also have a chance to showcase his talents to other teams.
Will Dak Prescott's hamstring injury be a blessing in disguise for the Cowboys?
Dak Prescott has 11 touchdowns this season. However, he also has eight picks in as many games.
Prescott has four games with two interceptions, showing that he has the propensity to play badly in patches. He has recorded 1,978 passing yards in 2024 and has a completion rate of 64.7.
Prescott has been part of the problem for a Cowboys team that has struggled to reach the heights they have in the last couple of regular seasons.
However, how much Cooper Rush can improve is debatable considering Dallas' biggest problem is on the defensive side of the ball where they are giving up rushing yards at will to the opposition. The 147.8 yards they are giving up on the ground is the third-worst in the league ahead of the Panthers and the Colts.
Therefore, while many might be happy that Dak Prescott might not play again this season because Cooper Rush might take care of the ball better and not give up turnovers, the core problems with the roster go beyond the quarterback position.