Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will have surgery on his hand Monday, according to the Dallas Morning News, after injuring his thumb Sunday night during the team's season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Prescott's recovery is expected to take six to eight weeks, though a specific timetable for his return would not be set until after his procedure. Should Prescott miss six weeks, he'll miss games against the Bengals, Giants, Commanders, Rams, Eagles and Lions and be available to face the Bears on Oct. 30. If his recovery takes eight weeks, he'll miss the game against Chicago and return Nov. 13 to face the Packers in Green Bay. The Cowboys' bye week is week nine, between the games against the Bears and Packers.
The Cowboys quarterback fractured a bone in his throwing hand during the fourth quarter. Prescott could be seen flexing his throwing hand and talking to the sideline doctor before jogging off the field for further examination. NBC Sunday Night Football sideline reporter Melissa Stark reported he was getting X-rays.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters Sunday night Prescott would need surgery on his thumb.
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I was told it's much cleaner than it could have been.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on the injury to his throwing hand
The injury appeared to happen or become clear to Prescott during a pass to Noah Brown when Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett hit Prescott's hand.
Prescott explained in a post-game news conference he had hit his hand and jammed fingers before and thought that's what happened.
"Next play realized I couldn't grip the ball, let the sideline know, and then when I got off, I told the trainers the same thing I said, 'I can't grip. I feel like if you yank it I'll be OK,' but no, came got X-rays and things are different," Prescott said. "I just gotta go see the doctor tomorrow, plan to see him, have surgery tomorrow, and they'll let me know once they get in there and see everything. I was told it's much cleaner than it could have been."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Prescott's injury is above the thumb and behind the joint, and he pointed to an area between his own thumb and wrist.
"Disappointing way for us to start the year, I'm disappointed about that. I'm particularly disappointed for our fans, Dak will be out for a little while," Jones said. "This was a real tough night for the Cowboys and really a surprising night. Of course, really add to it right there at the end to lose him for several weeks."
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush took over under center with 5:50 left in the last quarter. Rush was activated off the practice squad Saturday for Sunday night's game.
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DAK PRESCOTT HAS COME BACK FROM INJURY BEFORE
Prescott's 2020 season ended in the fifth week because of a gruesome ankle injury. He returned last season to throw for 4,449 yards and 37 touchdowns as the Cowboys won the NFC East before losing their first-round playoff game at home.
The 29-year-old Prescott said he got into the best shape of his life going into this season, his seventh in the NFL.
When there appeared to be a setback in practice last week, Prescott blamed a change in cleats for soreness on his surgically repaired ankle.
Prescott and the Cowboys are dealing with a bigger issue now, after losing its season opener without scoring a touchdown.
"To be very candid with you, all of that takes a backseat to the fact that as we go forward here for the next few weeks, we'll be going forward without Dak," Jones said. "That's foremost on my mind."
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