Dak Prescott medically cleared, throwing with starters at Cowboys practice ahead of Lions game

It's official. Dak Prescott has been cleared from his broken thumb and is throwing with starters at Dallas Cowboys practice.

Head coach Mike McCarthy announced Wednesday that Prescott “has been cleared medically to be a full participant” ahead of Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions. The news confirms anticipation from the team earlier this week that Prescott would be cleared.

The Cowboys quarterback hasn't played since breaking the thumb on his throwing hand in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had surgery to repair the fracture on Sept. 12.

Per McCarthy, Prescott was slated to participate in a mock game leading the starting offense on Wednesday and would then "probably throw somewhere between 40 and 50 balls” in a separate workout.

The Cowboys lost their season opener against the Bucs, painting a grim picture for their season with Prescott sidelined for the foreseeable future. Five games later, they're 4-2 thanks to a swarming defense and the steady play of backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who led Dallas to a 4-1 record in Prescott's stead.

Now Prescott returns to a Cowboys team in the thick of of the early season playoff hunt and chasing the 6-0 Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. The Cowboys lost to the Eagles on Sunday as Rush threw the first of his three interceptions on the season. Prescott's return is obviously welcome news in Dallas.

Prescott resumed throwing prior to Wednesday, including participation in 7-on-7 drills on Saturday. McCarthy said on Monday that timing was the most critical factor for Prescott at practice this week.

"When you look at players who return to play, they’re cleared medically to play but if the timing isn’t there, they may need another week," McCarthy said. "I think that’s why if you look at the regimentation of how we’ve been bringing Dak back, obviously following the medical process of it, but we’ve been trying to do as much throwing, particularly the routes on air, as we can."

The Cowboys face four-straight games against NFC North opponents. After Sunday's game against the Lions, the Cowboys face the Chicago Bears then have a bye week before playing the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.