Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott exited the team’s Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with multiple injuries. What happened to Prescott, and what did he say about his status after the game? Let’s examine the latest on the Cowboys QB.
What Happened to Dak Prescott?
At the start of the fourth quarter, Prescott entered the blue medical tent along Dallas’ sideline.
His right hand appeared swollen once he emerged from the tent. After returning to the bench, Prescott subsequently received further attention from the Cowboys’ medical staff.
In addition to his swollen hand, Dallas announced that Prescott also suffered a hamstring injury. He was in pain following his pass attempt, an incompletion on the Cowboys’ final offensive play of the third quarter.
Dak Prescott’s swollen hand being tended to pic.twitter.com/S30Vb1NEuG
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) November 3, 2024
Prescott was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the game due to the hamstring injury.
Prior to exiting the game, Prescott completed 18-of-24 passing attempts for 133 yards and a touchdown.
It appears Prescott injured his hamstring while planting his foot to make a throw.
Dak Prescott has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a Hamstring injury, this was the play where it had happened. pic.twitter.com/vNbCkhHL07
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) November 3, 2024
After Dallas’ loss, owner Jerry Jones said he was “concerned” about Prescott’s hamstring injury.
Prescott said he will undergo an MRI on Monday. While noting that he’s a quick healer, Prescott did not predict whether he would miss time due to his hamstring injury.
“We’ve gotta get a picture of it,” Prescott told reporters. “When we get a picture of it, I guess we’ll see how bad it is. It’ll take a lot for me to not be out there, I’ll tell you that personally.”
Prescott said he felt a “pull” in his hamstring, which was new to him.
“I felt something I’ve never felt,” Prescott said. “Tough to walk on it at that point. I saw the medical team and asked, ‘Could I make it worse?’ At that point, they said I wouldn’t be able to protect myself and made the call to hold me out.”
The Cowboys will face the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Washington Commanders, and New York Giants over the next four weeks. Dallas already had its bye in Week 7, leaving Prescott no week off to recover.
What Would Prescott’s Absence Mean for the Cowboys?
If Prescott is out, it would be an enormous loss for Dallas. Cooper Rush would step in as the Cowboys’ starting QB, just as he did on Sunday against the Falcons. He completed 13 of 25 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown in Prescott’s absence.
Rush went 4-1 after relieving Prescott as the Cowboys’ starter in 2022, putting the ball in the hands of Dallas’ playmakers and letting them get to work. He typically looks composed when asked to enter a game in Prescott’s place and led several comeback victories during his five-game run two years ago.
Pro Football Network ranks Rush as the NFL’s 15th-best backup quarterback.
The Cowboys are 3-5 and fading in the NFC playoff race. PFN’s Playoff Predictor gives Dallas just 5.9% odds of making the postseason. If Prescott is sidelined for a significant time, the Cowboys’ playoff hopes could be over.
Fantasy Impact of Prescott’s Injury
Moving to Rush is a significant downgrade for this offense’s overall point expectancy, but the impact in fantasy football circles would be minimal should this injury result in missed time.
CeeDee Lamb is the alpha target earner, and while he might not be a top-five option under Rush, he wouldn’t fall anywhere close to being out of the starting tier of receivers. Jake Ferguson’s appeal dips, but he remains a starter, given his role in this offense.
Rico Dowdle and this run game figure will suffer the most as the running lanes decline. In a perfect world, you’re not relying on this backfield as it is, and that would further prove to be the case should Dallas be forced to go to their backup quarterback.
— PFN Analyst Kyle Soppe
PFN+ Analysis on Prescott’s Injury
It has been a tough year for Prescott, who came into the week ranking 24th in the league in terms of QB+. It has also been by far his worst season since 2019, when he posted a D+ grade in 2024, having not posted a grade lower than a B previously.
Prescott has been struggling in all aspects. He is posting his worst numbers since 2019 when throwing out of a clean pocket or under pressure. That has resulted in his having the lowest numbers in converting on third downs, net YPA, and clutch situations.
In three of his seven games this year, Prescott has posted a C or lower, ranking outside the top 20 at the position in each of those weeks.
— PFN Analyst Ben Rolfe