Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was spotted on vacation in a protective walking boot, as he continues to nurse what the team is calling a minor foot sprain.
While both Prescott’s camp and the Cowboys were quick to downplay the severity of the injury, few will argue that it comes at an inopportune time for the impending free agent.
Entering the final year of his contract, and with extension talks at an impasse, Prescott has a lot riding on the 2024 campaign. The NFL’s 2023 completion and passing TD leader is seeking a big money contract similar to what Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff have signed in recent months. However Jerry Jones and the rest of the Cowboys’ front office have been hesitant to commit both term and dollar to their franchise QB.
“I’m not going to say I fear being here or not. I don’t fear either situation, to be candid with you,” Prescott told reporters at a charity event back in April. “I love this game and love to play and love to better myself as a player and my teammates around me. Right now it’s with the Dallas Cowboys, it’s where I want to be, and that’s where I am, and that’s the focus. And after the season we’ll see where we’re at and if the future holds that. And if not, we’ll go from there.”
Dallas doesn’t believe that the injury will have much of an affect on Prescott’s preparation for the 2024 season, however it’s certainly a situation worth monitoring. The 30 year old signal caller famously went down with a fractured ankle back in October of 2020 in his team’s win over the New York Giants, and ultimately wound up missing the remainder of the season. Based on photos of Prescott, it would appear as though he’s wearing a walking boot on the same foot that required two separate surgical procedures to repair.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have made no effort to hide the fact that they have championship aspirations for 2024. However, they also have several prominent players who will need new contracts ahead of the 2025 campaign as well, making the forthcoming season a pivotal one for the future direction of the franchise.
In addition to Prescott, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, WR Brandin Cooks, G Zack Martin, and WR CeeDee Lamb are all in need of new deals. Not to mention standout pass rusher Micah Parsons who will be seeking a new contract as well as his current pact is set to expire at the end of 2025.
With so many prominent players to pay, Dallas will need to take a long hard look in the mirror at season’s end and likely say goodbye to a few key contributors.
Over the course of his 114 games NFL career, one spent entirely with the Cowboys organization, Prescott has thrown for 29,459 yards, 202 TDs, and 74 INTs while amassing a 73-41 record under centre. While the former Mississippi State standout hasn’t explicitly said that he’s hoping to reset the QB market with his next deal, many around the league believe that Prescott’s camp won’t be entertaining any offers below $50M per season.
With 6 QB’s set to make $50M+ in 2024 (Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts), that figure isn’t an unreasonable ask. Especially given the fact that QB needy teams such as Las Vegas will be keeping a close eye on the Prescott situation throughout the year.
All in all, it makes for no shortage of off field intrigue in Cowboys land heading into training camps on July 25th as Jerry & Stephen Jones evaluate which players fit into their long term plans and which ones they’re comfortable letting walk.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.