Dak Prescott injured his right hamstring on Sunday, and the situation has continued to deteriorate for the Dallas Cowboys.
After the game, his prognosis was uncertain. By Monday, it was reported that he would miss several games. On Tuesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged that Prescott would likely be placed on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four of the Cowboys’ remaining nine games in their 3-5 season. By Wednesday, there were growing concerns about whether Prescott would return to play at all this year
The Dallas Morning News reports that Prescott sustained a partial avulsion of his right hamstring tendon, a serious injury that has team officials considering whether surgery is needed for the torn portion of the tendon. If surgery is required, it would likely end Prescott’s season.
The quarterback is seeking second opinions on the injury before any final decisions are made.
Prescott’s injury took place at the end of the third quarter during the Cowboys’ 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. After the game, he mentioned feeling a “pull” in his hamstring unlike anything he had experienced before and struggled to walk.
A significant injury to Prescott would be another major setback for the Cowboys’ already disappointing season, though it’s worth noting that the quarterback hasn’t been performing at a high level either. Through eight games, he has thrown for 1,978 yards, with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while his 64.7% completion rate is his lowest since 2024.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys are also grappling with injuries to key players like CeeDee Lamb (shoulder), Micah Parsons (ankle), and DaRon Bland (foot), adding to the challenges as they currently sit in third place in the NFC East. With divisional matchups looming in three of their next four games, losing their starting quarterback at this critical juncture is especially damaging.
Cooper Rush will step in for Prescott for as long as he’s sidelined, with the Cowboys now hoping to find a way to salvage their season. At the trade deadline, their only move was acquiring wide receiver Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday.
