Stephen Jones: Dak Prescott Injury Changes Nothing in Cowboys Contract Talks

Dak Prescott's season-ending ankle injury won't prevent the Dallas Cowboys from attempting to re-sign their quarterback, chief operating officer Stephen Jones told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer on Wednesday: 

"There is zero change in his contract negotiation status, how much we want to get him signed. Nothing changes. He didn’t lose value. Nothing. It’s a continually work in progress. Obviously, it’s been a challenge for us, in that we haven’t gotten it done, especially with how bad I know he wants to be a Cowboy. And I know how bad we want him to be the leader of this team for the next 10, 12 years." 

The Cowboys have been engaged in contract talks with Prescott for the past 18 months, according to Breer. He played out his rookie deal in 2019 for just over $2 million, and was franchise tagged this season to earn $31.4 million. Discussions can resume following the end of the Cowboys' season. 

Prescott's season ended in the third quarter of the Cowboys' Week 5 victory against the New York Giants and he had surgery that night to repair a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. The former fourth-round pick has not missed a start in his five years in Dallas. Jones reflected on the seriousness of his quarterback's injury, recalling how "when you saw that, you knew that he was gonna be done for the year": 

"Anytime you see that type of injury that can happen in our game, we’ve had them from everybody from Alex Smith to Joe Theismann, to have it happen to somebody that’s your own—on your own team—it breaks your heart. Dak being our leader in every way, it magnified the situation even more. It’s just very, very difficult, knowing how much he loves the game, how much he loves to compete, how much he wants to win for this team."

The 27-year-old quarterback is recovering at home, facing a rehab time of four to six months.