Dak Prescott Expected to Play in Cowboys' Preseason Despite Shoulder Injury

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJuly 29, 2021

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott passes during drills at practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Oxnard, Calif., Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker

Dak Prescott left the Dallas Cowboys' practice Wednesday with a right shoulder strain.

But head coach Mike McCarthy expects Prescott to be good to go once the preseason rolls around, per multiple reports:

Jon Machota @jonmachota
Based on the reports Mike McCarthy has received from the team medical staff, he still expects Dak Prescott to play in the preseason

Michael Gehlken @GehlkenNFL
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (shoulder) will resume throwing in two or three days, coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s not of high concern. I think it was smart when he pulled up when did.”

Michael Gehlken @GehlkenNFL
Cowboys have planned for QB Dak Prescott, who turned 28 today, to play this preseason. Shoulder strain hasn’t changed that. Coach Mike McCarthy: “I don’t see us getting away from our preliminary plan.”

Prescott didn't sound too concerned about the injury Wednesday.

"I felt some soreness when making certain throws today, and I really just decided not to push things too far," he said in a statement. "Better to be cautious and smart about it. I don't see this as any kind of serious setback. We'll treat it on a daily basis, and I'll be fine."

The team said Prescott underwent a "purely precautionary" MRI after leaving practice and would continue to be evaluated day to day.

"It's good you catch a fatigue injury early," McCarthy told reporters. "I think it's more staying in front of what he has."

Any injury to Prescott will be cause for concern for the Cowboys and their fans after Prescott missed 11 games last season with a dislocated and compound fracture of his right ankle. Despite the gruesome injury, the Cowboys locked up the star quarterback to a four-year, $160 million contract extension in the offseason.

That didn't come as a major surprise. Prescott was balling through the first five games of the season, throwing for 1,856 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 68 percent of his passes.

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Translated to a 16-game season, he was on pace for 5,939 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Impressive numbers.

Things haven't gotten off to the best of starts in training camp as Prescott looks to recapture that form, though it sounds as though the injury will heal fine with a little rest.