Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott could be out 6-8 weeks: ‘We have bigger problems now’

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott entered Sunday’s 19-3 season opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with questions surrounding a report that he left Thursday’s practice because he felt a pop in his surgically-repaired right ankle.

After the game, he stood by his initial claim that he only had discomfort in his ankle due to some new cleats he was trying to break in.

The ankle held up fine against the Buccaneers just as he said on Thursday.

But Prescott, who left the game late in the fourth quarter after hitting his right hand on the Buccaneers linebacker Shaq Barrett’s hand and wore a brace to his post-game press conference, regrettably admitted, “We have bigger problems now.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Prescott suffered a fracture to his right thumb and will need surgery, sidelining him for several weeks.

“All I can say is Dak has a fracture and will be out,” Jones said. “Again, it’s behind the thumb.”

Prescott said the plans are for him to have surgery on Monday. Per sources, Prescott could miss between 6-to-8 weeks and will be placed on injured reserve.

Prescott said he initially thought he just famed his thumb and wanted the trainers to yank on it when he went to sideline one play later when he couldn’t grip the football.

“I’ve hit on however many bodies, a lot in my career, and never really had anything maybe a jammed finger, and I actually thought that’s what it was,” Prescott said. “Then, when I got off, I told the trainers the same thing. I said I can’t grip it. I feel like if you yank it I’ll be OK, and I came in and got X-rays and things were different.”

Prescott said he will get a clearer timeline on how long he will be out following the surgery.

But things are indeed different for Prescott and the Cowboys, who head into an uncertain future with their franchise quarterback sidelined after one of the most disappointing season-opening performances in franchise history.

It was the fewest points the team scored in a season opener since 1989 when the Cowboys lost 28-0 to the New Orleans Saints in Jones’ first game at team owner.

Prescott completed 14 of 29 passes for 134 yards with an interception and quarterback rating of 47.2 before the injury.

“It’s very disappointing, but injuries happen,” Prescott said. “Can’t necessarily control it. Just unfortunate. I’m obviously going to miss some time, not be there for my team. That’s what hurts more than anything, especially after the start that we just put out there. I wanted to be able to respond and not necessarily having that opportunity for several weeks.”

Coach Mike McCarthy said the Cowboys will move forward with Cooper Rush at quarterback following the “significant hand injury” to Prescott.

Rush beat the Minnesota Vikings in his only career start in place of Prescott last season. The Cowboys are 5-7 all-time without Prescott.

All expect Prescott to return later this season.

The question is what the Cowboys will look like when Prescott gets back into the lineup.

“I think Dak will be playing this year and playing well this year,” Jones said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back and playing well. Where my mind is right now, how can we have this team at a level that’s competing and winning ball games until he does get back?”

The Cowboys face Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at AT&T Stadium next Sunday. The Super Bowl runner ups lost the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener.

The Cowboys then face three of the next four games on the road at New York Giants (1-0) on Sept. 26, a home game against the Washington Commanders (1-0) Oct. 2 then at the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams (0-1) Oct. 9 and at the Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) Oct. 16.

They host the Detroit Lions (0-1) and Chicago Bears (1-0) on Oct. 23 and Oct. 30 before a bye week proceeds a trip to Green Bay for McCarthy’s homecoming against the Packers (0-1) on Nov. 13.

“Yeah, it’s unfortunate, but I’ll do what I’ve always done anytime adversity comes. Take it on head first and I’ll give my best, and I’m sure I’ll come out of this better,” Prescott said. “Things happen that I can’t control and who am I to question it. It just gives me an opportunity to respond and move forward. Control the things that I can and that’s what I’ll do as I’ve always done.”

Prescott did not miss a game during the first four years of his career and had 69 straight starts before missing the final 11 games of the 2020 season with a fractured ankle.

He missed one game in 2021.

This will be Prescott’s fourth surgery since 2020. He had two surgeries on his fractured ankle and underwent minor shoulder surgery after the 2021 season.