Cowboys' Dak Prescott Believes Calf 'Had Something to Do' With 2020 Ankle Injury

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott told reporters on Thursday that he believes his current calf injury is related to the season-ending compound right ankle fracture and dislocation he suffered during the 2020 campaign:

Prescott added that he believes his availability for Sunday's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings will be decided on Saturday, before the team holds a "launch practice" that day and travels to Minnesota. 

"Today, I pushed it," he told reporters of Thursday's practice. "I didn't go half or 75 percent."

Finally, Prescott said that if Sunday's matchup with the Vikings was a playoff game, there would be "no question" that he would be playing. 

"It's not fully my decision because there is a bigger picture," he told reporters. "It's more than just one game."

"I've got to keep progressing," he added. "I don't want to say this is something like my shoulder, but in a sense, I don't know if it's just my decision."

Prescott, 28, has had a solid 2021 campaign and shown little hangover from last year's devastating injury, throwing for 1,813 yards, 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions in six games, completing 73.1 percent of his passes. The Cowboys are 5-1 and atop the NFC East. 

The Cowboys' Super Bowl aspirations rest almost entirely with Prescott remaining healthy. Without him last year, the team finished 4-7. 

Hence, what appears to be an abundance of caution heading into Sunday. Losing a late October game against the Vikings without Prescott wouldn't be ideal, but it would be far better than him aggravating a small injury and making it a large one that lingers throughout the season.