It has only been a few days since the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Atlanta Falcons, but the totality of exactly what happened to Dak Prescott is starting to come into focus. Prescott left the game as the fourth quarter began with an injury, one many people originally assumed had to do with his throwing hand based on what the television broadcast showed. After the game he noted that it was something he had never felt before which suggested the matter was rather serious. It was later revealed that he had a hamstring injury and one day later it was reported that the injury was so severe that it was going to cost him multiple weeks.
As of Wednesday evening the Cowboys had yet to officially place Prescott on injured reserve, although that sort of seems like an inevitability at this point. It’s even more the case based on the reporting of NFL Network’s Jane Slater who noted on Wednesday evening that Prescott’s diagnosis is specifically a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon that is apparently partially torn off of the bone.
As the #Cowboys weigh in on Dak Prescott’s IR status, sources tell me the initial diagnosis is a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon which is partially torn off the bone. I’m told it typically takes more than a 4 week recovery. In some cases, they let it scar over, repair…
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) November 6, 2024
Slater notes that the injury in question generally takes more than four weeks to recover from so injured reserve (which would require Prescott to miss at minimum four games, for those unaware) seems logical; however, she added that sometimes it is possible for different recoveries to happen and that Prescott is currently trying to explore all options (in terms of a second opinion) before crossing that proverbial bridge.
There are nine games left in the season for the Cowboys and even if the team were to win the next four that would only bring their record to 7-5. While that sounds incredible relative to where they are at the moment, consider that the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles both currently have six and seven wins, respectively. Winning the NFC East, and making the playoffs in general, is an uphill battle for this team at the moment.
It would appear that the front office does not entirely feel that way as they traded with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. The Mingo deal does not exactly scream all-in (only Jerry Jones does to signal the worst offseason of all time), but it at least partially suggests that the team will not be waving the white flag any time soon. This feels more true given that Dallas paid a fourth-round pick to acquire Mingo, a figure that was regarded as a “shocker” by NFL insiders.
Update: 10:30pm ET
Late Wednesday night the severity of Prescott’s injury was discussed in a report from The Dallas Morning News where they noted that surgery might be necessary.
The report added that if surgery is in fact a necessity that Dak’s season would be over.
Team officials are trying to determine if Prescott needs surgery for the portion of the tendon that has torn from the bone or if it can heal on its own. If surgery is necessary, Prescott’s season would end.
We will see if the team offers any word on this in the coming days.
