When will Dak be back? Not for a while.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is no stranger to injured reserve: He’s missed big chunks of time in recent years with various injuries, and unfortunately for both he and the Cowboys, his next stint is already here.
In Sunday night’s season opener against the Buccaneers, Prescott injured his right (throwing) thumb after it collided with the hand of Tampa Bay pass rusher Shaq Barrett. Prescott knew almost immediately that the injury was severe — he couldn’t grip the football on the ensuing possession.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed the suspicion of a brutal injury following the game, saying Prescott would need surgery.
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The passer missing extended time is a massive blow to the Cowboys’ NFC East hopes, even so early on in the season. Here’s the latest on Prescott’s injury, and when fans can expect to see him back on the field.
How long is Dak Prescott out?
ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that Prescott is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks while recovering and rehabbing from hand surgery, scheduled for Monday. That puts the Cowboys QB out until the Oct. 30 matchup against the Bears at the very least.
If the projected timeline is followed to the latest date, then Prescott could return on Nov. 13 in a matchup against the Packers.
Dak Prescott is expected to have surgery Monday on a right thumb injury and miss 6-8 weeks, according to multiple sources. He will meet with the team’s hand specialist on Monday, but sources said he will have a pin and plate inserted to stabilize the joint.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 12, 2022
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Prescott would be out more than a month, but a more clear timeline should surface in the days following Prescott’s procedure.
Cowboys boss Jerry Jones told media on Sunday night that Prescott would need surgery.
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What is Dak Prescott’s injury?
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that it is a “clean fracture” of the throwing thumb, above the joint. Rapoport says that Prescott actually escaped the worst-case scenario; if it hadn’t been a clean fracture, then it would have been a more complicated surgery.
ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that the surgery includes inserting a pin and a plate to stabilize the joint in the thumb.
Prescott suffered the injury to the thumb on his right (throwing) hand after it collided with the hand of Buccaneers pass rusher Shaq Barrett on a follow through following a pass.
Cooper Rush is now in at QB as Dak Prescott gets checked out for what looks to be an injury to his hand.
📽️: @StevenVanOver pic.twitter.com/HhbYW42tAn
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) September 12, 2022
“He’s going to NEED surgery…Dak will be OUT for a little while.”
Jerry Jones addresses Dak Prescott’s injury and a timetable for his return. pic.twitter.com/YKG2Mfr2ie
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) September 12, 2022
Dak Prescott injury timeline
On Sept. 11, in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys-Buccaneers Week 1 matchup, Prescott’s hand collided with Bucs pass rusher Shaq Barrett on a pass attempt, and Prescott instantly knew something was wrong.
Prescott appeared to mouth “it’s broken” to Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, and following the game, McCarthy was visibly distraught with news that Prescott’s thumb was in bad shape.
Mike McCarthy’s reaction to asking about Dak Prescott’s injury. pic.twitter.com/DbSMC5XJap
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) September 12, 2022
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Following the game, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the media, saying that Prescott would undergo hand surgery and miss several weeks.
“He has an injury above his joint in his thumb, up here, that’ll need surgery. … Dak will be out for a little while,” Jones told reporters. “Of course when you add to it, right there at the end, to lose him for several weeks. We’ll see more about how many weeks that may be.”
Prescott also addressed the media following the game, saying that he didn’t feel the injury was all too bad after it
“I thought I jammed it, I’ve hit my hand on helmets or bodies a lot in my career, and never really had anything, maybe a jam a finger here,” Prescott said. “That’s what I thought it was. The next play I couldn’t grip the ball, I let the sideline know. When I got off, I told the trainers the same thing — ‘If I yank it, it’ll be OK.'”
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, those “several weeks” actually could be up to two months, with Prescott undergoing surgery.
On Monday, the timeline for Prescott’s recovery was a little more clear: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Prescott’s thumb could be repaired “relatively quickly,” and that he would be out more than a month, and “probably even more than that.”
A firmer timeline should be available in the coming weeks.
Dak Prescott injury updates
Sept. 12: Prescott is expected to meet with doctors and also undergo surgery. A firmer timetable for his return should be available soon after the procedure.
Sept. 11: Todd Archer (ESPN) reports that the injury requires a pin and a plate to be put into Prescott’s hand. He’s expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks.
Sept. 11: Jerry Jones addresses media, says that Prescott is going to undergo hand surgery that’ll keep him out for “several weeks.”
Sept. 11: In the fourth quarter of the Cowboys’ season-opening matchup vs. the Buccaneers, Prescott’s hand collides with that of Shaq Barrett. Prescott headed to the sideline in the aftermath and says he can’t grip a football.
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