Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was highly efficient stat-wise in the team’s Week 15 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Yes, he finished with his lowest passing-yardage total of the season, 212, but he threw for two scores, had his second-highest Adjusted Yards per Attempt average of the year (10.96 per throw) and second-best passer rating (123.8) of the season.
And he did it all with a bad shoulder from almost the outset of the game, it seems. Prescott had an MRI on Tuesday that came back negative and is expected to suit up for the club’s de facto NFC East championship game on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. At practice on Wednesday, he participated, but did not throw.
Prescott had an MRI and it came back negative
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) December 18, 2019
Here’s the play in which Dak Prescott got hurt. Sixth play from scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/1mUaNl8mhi
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) December 18, 2019
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott didn’t participate in throwing or drills in portion of practice open to media today. Stretched both legs with left hand, rather than injured right shoulder. pic.twitter.com/ZMbH61mYmu
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 18, 2019
“They did an MRI, and everything seems to be OK,” Garrett said via the Dallas News. “But he banged it up, and it’s hard for him to function right now. So we don’t anticipate him throwing much in practice today.”
In his place, backup Cooper Rush participated in the throwing drills with the Cowboys’ targets on Wednesday. Rush has primarily appeared in kneel-down duty across his three years with the team as a UDFA out of Central Michigan. He has only thrown three passes in his career, all in a single 2017 game and has just two passing yards on his resume.
The club fully expects Prescott to be able to suit up on Sunday, but it is certainly something to be monitored. The quarterback is enjoying his finest statistical season, throwing for over 4,300 yards in the team’s 14 games.
His blindside protector, Tyron Smith, is also ailing. Smith is having an issue with his left eye and his status for the game is unknown at the moment.
Jason Garrett doesn't want to get into the medical part of Tyron Smith's eye issue, but what he just said jives with my assumption.
'I think it's a stye sort of thing, but don't quote me on that.'
Sorry, Jason. I just quoted you on that. #Cowboys
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 18, 2019
In addition, middle linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is already ruled out of a fifth-straight contest due to his neck injury as it appears more and more the second-year player may be done for the season.
Finally, special team’s ace CJ Goodwin underwent thumb surgery, but is expected to be ready to go by Sunday.
“Surgery went well” Monday for Cowboys CB C.J. Goodwin. Special-teams flyer suffered a fractured thumb Sunday vs. Rams. He will practice in a cast this week, gaining comfort with equipment. Expected to play Sunday in Philadelphia.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 18, 2019
The Cowboys full practice report will be included when it becomes available.
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