Dak Prescott: Cowboys vs. Brady, Bucs 'Means More Than The Opponent and Their Rings'

The Dallas Cowboys open their season against the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Dak Prescott doesn't care who his team is facing.

"I’m excited to get back on the field," the quarterback said Wednesday, per Ed Werder of ESPN. "This game means more than the opponent and their rings."

The Week 1 game will be Prescott's regular-season return to the field after suffering a compound fracture and dislocation of his ankle last season. The injury ended his year after just five games as the Cowboys struggled to a 6-10 record overall.

Dak Prescott was off to an outstanding start to the year before the injury, averaging 371.2 passing yards per game in five appearances. He followed up his 4,902 passing yards in 2019 with 30 touchdowns.

It was enough to earn a four-year, $160 million contract extension this offseason.

There are now high expectations in 2021 if Prescott returns to full strength. There is already plenty of talent around him with Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, making one of the most exciting offenses in the NFL.

The team will still have its work cut out for it in Week 1 against the Buccaneers, who showcased their defensive ability in the postseason on the way to the Super Bowl. The team held Patrick Mahomes and the dangerous Kansas City Chiefs offense to just nine points in the title game.

With Tom Brady still under center and virtually every key player returning to the lineup, the Buccaneers should once again be a top contender to win the championship.

Prescott will clearly just be happy getting healthy, but the first game could be an important litmus test for Dallas.