Dallas rallies again but loses Prescott with broken ankle
ARLINGTON, Texas — After Dak Prescott’s season ended on a gruesome ankle injury, his running mate for all five of their seasons with the Cowboys had a hard time getting through the postgame interview.
Ezekiel Elliott sounded crushed, even after backup Andy Dalton led a drive to Greg Zuerlein’s second gameending field goal of the season as Dallas ( 23) rallied twice in a 3734 victory over the New York Giants ( 05) on Sunday.
“I can’t even think right now,” Elliott said to no question in particular as he continued trying to absorb the thirdquarter injury to Prescott, a twotime Pro Bowl quarterback who was a fourthround pick the same year Elliott went fourth overall.
“It’s hard to kind of put in words,” Elliott, who rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns, said in the middle of an answer about Dalton’s role in the rally. “I’m sorry. I’m just struggling a little bit right now.”
Prescott was going down in the arms of defensive back Logan Ryan at the end of a 9yard run in the third quarter when the Dallas quarterback’s lower right leg got caught under Ryan.
Prescott reached for the leg as he writhed in pain, and TV images showed his right foot bent at an awkward angle away from his leg. He was fighting back tears as he was carted off with a cast on the leg. Most of Prescott’s teammates rushed to console him, as did several New
York players, including Ryan.
“I’ve got a sick taste in my stomach for it, because he was playing hell of a game, it was a hell of a battle between us,” Ryan said. “Nothing ill will on my part. I know he’s going to come back stronger.”
The team said Prescott had a fracture dislocation of the right ankle and was taken to a hospital, where surgery was planned Sunday night.
“I feel terrible for him,” firstyear coach Mike McCarthy said. “He was having a tremendous year in the short time working with him. He’s made such an impression on me and he’s clearly the leader of this football team. I have no doubt that he’ll bounce back from this and this will be all part of his great story.”
Prescott’s brother, Tad, posted a selfie on Twitter with a smiling Prescott in a hospital bed behind him, writing that the quarterback would be back “STRONGER than ever” and using an expletive for emphasis.
“We are all heartbroken for Dak and this very disappointing injury,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “The outpouring of messages that I have received regarding his setback speaks volumes to the respect and admiration that he has earned from his teammates, former Cowboys players and Cowboys supporters everywhere.”