Former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott has been one of the top players in the NFL since becoming the signal-caller for the Dallas Cowboys back in 2016. He's put up gaudy passing numbers while leading to Cowboys to being regular playoff contenders.
It's why Dallas made Prescott the highest paid player in league history by annual salary with a deal that pays upwards of $60 million per year. Unfortunately for Dak and the Cowboys, the 2024 season has not at all gone to plan. The Cowboys are just 3-5 on the season, and Prescott himself has experienced some struggles on the field.
Things went from bad to worse last week. In the second-half of a loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Prescott went down with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the game. And sadly, that injury won't be one he overcomes quickly.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott expected to be out for season
The severity of Dak Prescott's hamstring injury was reveled on Saturday. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter is reporting that Prescott is planning to undergo season-ending hamstring surgery.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is planning to undergo season-ending surgery on his partially torn hamstring, pending the opinion of one final specialist, sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 9, 2024
Prescott is flying to New York to meet with the specialist, but Cowboys doctors already believe he needs the… pic.twitter.com/r5Qy9gnYid
According to Schefter, Prescott will the hear the opinion of final specialist, but team doctors already believe the required surgery will end his 2024 season. So barring a last-minute change, Dak won't take the field for the Cowboys again until next year.
There's no reason for Dak Prescott to try rushing back for this Cowboys team
While I'm sure Dak would love to play again this season if at all possible, rushing back from this injury would not at all be worth it. At 3-5, the Cowboys aren't in clear position to contend for the playoffs. It wouldn't be totally unfeasible if things got clicking for them, but if their current level of play continues, they will finish with a losing season.
And even if he were healthy, the chances of things clicking are low. Dak hasn't had a great season by any means, but the Cowboys as a whole are a bad team. They have a bad offensive line, no run game, no play-makers outside of CeeDee Lamb, and a bad defense. There's too many issues to orchestrate a mid-season turnaround beyond Prescott's injury.
It's best for Dak to get the necessary surgery and take the full time needed to rehabilitate ahead of next season.