The NFL regular season might not kick off for another five months, but Dak Prescott says he would be ready to play today if he had to.
Prescott is coming off a season-ending hamstring injury, one of many things that ultimately derailed the 2024 Dallas Cowboys season.
‘If I had to play a game today, I definitely could do that,’ Prescott said at the 35th annual Children’s Cancer Fund gala on Friday, according to the Cowboys’ website. ‘It’s about moving forward healthy to make sure I can play 17 times, 20 [games], whatever we get to when the time’s right.’
The 31-year-old suffered a partially torn hamstring in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons, which limited him to just eight games in 2024.
Dallas went on to miss the playoffs, which kickstarted an offseason of change for the Cowboys. The team fired head coach Mike McCarthy, promoting offense coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to replace him. Given the changes, it would be beneficial for Prescott to take part in some offseason activities, which the quarterback plans to be involved in to some degree.
‘I’m getting close to where I want to be, I don’t want to put a percentage on it,’ Prescott said. ‘I know we’ve got team activities coming up, imagine myself being involved in some sort if not all.’
However, Prescott did point out that it’s about being at his best during the season.
‘Then again I just understand my age, what I’ve had, what I’ve went through, it’s about being my best in the fall,’ he added. ‘So I’m not rushing anything, but I’m where I want to be.’
Luckily for Prescott’s sake, this isn’t his first rodeo. The quarterback has previously dealt with injury recovery, especially the severe kind. That, he said, allows him to realize a better version of himself is just on the other side of those challenges.
‘It’s just the work that I’ve put into it, unfortunately I’ve been through this process of recovering from injuries before that I embrace it,’ Prescott said. ‘I know that a better version of me is on the other side, so that’s just the way that I’ve approached this whole offseason and this whole rehab process.’
Considering the nature of the injury and his history, there was some concern about Prescott’s mobility going forward. The quarterback said he hasn’t lost or gained any weight, but shifted it around during the rehab process to build his legs back up.
That is all with the goal of continuing to be a mobile quarterback.
‘Me playing my best, I’m mobile,’ Prescott said. Whether it’s actually running past the line of scrimmage or just scrambling making plays happen with my arm, so that’s vital for me, that’s a big part of this.’
Prescott inked a four-year, $240 million extension before last season, which is set to begin this season. The Cowboys’ quarterback room will look a little different in 2025 after they lost their backup, Cooper Rush, to the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
Dallas swung a trade with the New England Patriots for Joe Milton III, adding some youth and potential to the room if Prescott fails to stay healthy.
While Prescott will be focused on his health, he will also be looking for a bounce-back season statistically. The quarterback posted career worsts in passer rating (86.0) and QBR (45.3), in addition to being on pace to set a career high in interceptions.
He posted a 3-5 record, which also highlighted the need for more talent on the roster.
Prescott will continue working back to full strength, but also a return to form.