The Cowboys’ slide has known as into query their offseason choices, with Jerry Jones‘ inactivity on the middle of many discussions. The longtime proprietor did in the end pay his two contract-year standouts, nonetheless, however the offers for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have preceded a 3-5 document.
This example might properly worsen quickly, as Prescott’s hamstring harm is anticipated to sideline him. Checks have revealed the difficulty to be worse than initially suspected, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, who report a multi-week absence is on faucet for the ninth-year quarterback. Though Prescott will search a second opinion, Rapoport adds, not less than a short-term absence must be anticipated.
Jones had stated he was apprehensive about Prescott’s availability for Dallas’ Week 10 matchup towards Philadelphia, and the reigning MVP runner-up went by means of an MRI Monday.
Prescott broken his hamstring on a scramble towards the Falcons, per AllDLLS.com’s Clarence Hill, however visibly aggravated it throughout a subsequent cross try. It isn’t but recognized if IR is in play, although committing to Prescott lacking 4 video games could be a threat as a consequence of Dallas’ early season struggles.
The harm moved two-stint Dak backup Cooper Rush into motion, as the previous UDFA changed Prescott as he did in 2022 in the course of the starter’s time away as a consequence of a finger harm. Rush is the Cowboys backup, however EVP Stephen Jones opened the door to some Trey Lance work (via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris) as properly. Lance joins Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Mac Jones as 2021 first-round QB draftees in contract years as reserves. Wilson and Lance, the Nos. 2 and three picks that 12 months, respectively, entered the season as third-stringers.
After it regarded like Prescott would go right into a contract 12 months, the Cowboys finalized a deal hours earlier than their Week 1 kickoff in Cleveland. Prescott’s extraordinary leverage led to a $60M-per-year extension that included the no-tag and no-trade clauses his second deal — which additionally got here with the QB in a singular leverage place — ended up together with.
This got here after the Cowboys made Lamb the NFL’s second-highest-paid broad receiver. Whereas accidents elsewhere have damage this Cowboys version, the Joneses have acquired scrutiny for not doing extra so as to add expertise elsewhere. These bills additionally got here months earlier than true Micah Parsons extension negotiations are anticipated to start.
Prescott, 31, has bounced again from absences earlier than. He finalized his first Dallas extension — 4 years, $160M — after a season-ending ankle harm.
Dak returned and didn’t miss a begin as a consequence of harm for the 2021 Cowboys, although he admitted this offseason that his ankle harm has continued to have an effect on him and requires common upkeep. Following the finger difficulty, Prescott returned in that October and has not missed a begin since. That streak is anticipated to cease at 36 video games, introducing extra obstacles for a struggling Cowboys squad.
Final 12 months’s second-team All-Professional passer, Prescott, sits twenty fifth in QBR this season. The Cowboys introduced down his historic cap hit this 12 months however are tied to the previous fourth-round discover by means of not less than 2027 now.
Prescott is due a $47.75M base wage in 2025, and the Cowboys might want to regulate his cap quantity — pushing extra money into future years — as a consequence of it at the moment residing at $89.89M. Even the Browns’ Deshaun Watson contract/calamity doesn’t enter that neighborhood when it comes to cap hits. The Cowboys will hope Prescott bounces again, however he acquired large safety in September.
Lance receiving work would signify essentially the most fascinating element right here, as he has gone from a 2022 49ers Week 1 starter to an afterthought. Sam Darnold beat out Lance to again up Brock Purdy in 2023, resulting in the Cowboys giving up a fourth-round choose for the previous North Dakota State star. Lance’s profession shortly drifted off monitor, and the ankle fracture he suffered in 2022 moved him to a crossroads.
No actual updates have modified that standing, regardless of a rumor indicating Lance may leapfrog Rush for the QB2 gig. That didn’t find yourself taking place. The Cowboys may actually take into account going with a higher-upside play relatively than Rush, although the latter has seen in depth work in Mike McCarthy‘s offense and affords extra stability.
At 3-5 and in a lame-duck 12 months, McCarthy will lean towards stability over growth. Nonetheless, it could be fascinating if possession overruled him — given the HC’s contract standing — on a possible play to see what Lance can contribute.
