Prescott not certain to face Vikings
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have listed quarterback Dak Prescott as questionable on the game status report for their Sunday night game at the Minnesota Vikings.
The designation comes after Prescott was limited again in practice Friday, 12 days removed from suffering a calf strain.
Prescott has been active each day this week coming off Dallas’ bye week. Since Monday night, he says, he has felt like he could play. But the decision isn’t his alone. Cowboys coach Mike Mccarthy, director of rehabilitation Britt Brown and front office members will factor in more than just this Vikings game when determining whether Prescott will play.
The implications are significant for one of the league’s best quarterbacks of 2021. Prescott has completed 73.1% of his passes for 1,813 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while leading the Cowboys to a 5-1 start. Doubt about his status has led betting lines to shift from the Cowboys’ initial favored position. By Friday afternoon after Prescott was listed as questionable, Vegas considered Dallas 3-point underdogs.
What exactly happened to Prescott and what factors into the decision?
Prescott aimed to fully test his limits on Thursday, insistent that working his calf 50 to 75% would not sufficiently help him gauge what it might feel like to escape a live Vikings rush. On Friday, he was sore, head coach Mike Mccarthy told reporters.
“He’s confident,” Mccarthy added. “He doesn’t waver. He wants to play and wants to continue to work toward that.” Prescott’s response to Friday work and Saturday assessments will likely dictate the game plan, the Cowboys hoping to start their gameday quarterback in what they call their “launch” practice Saturday.
Prescott is simultaneously determined, disappointed and realistic. As much as he claimed he had mentally “buried” his gruesome ankle fracture and dislocation, the belief is that a strained calf on the same leg is not unrelated. He also knows his game-play
style places stress on his lower body, and in an ideal world he’d be mobile enough to protect himself and effectively elude a Vikings pass rush tied for the league’s most sacks.
“This is a long journey and a long season so I don’t necessarily know if this is fully my decision,” Prescott said Thursday after practice. “I don’t want it to linger. I don’t want this to be week after week, ‘Are we going through this?’
“My point is to get healthy and to say, ‘Hey, (offensive coordinator) Kellen (Moore), don’t worry about the changing the play. Don’t worry about this or that. I’m ready to go.’ I’m going to control the thing is can.”
During portions of practice open to reporters on Wednesday and Thursday, Prescott began sessions with a lengthy rehabilitation conditioning period before rejoining teammates for individual drills. He practiced footwork and drop backs both on resistance cords and freely; Prescott worked on handoffs,
pitches and intermediate throws without visible hesitation or restriction. He also has taken first-team snaps in walkthroughs and mock games, an indication that the team has not ruled him out internally. Teammates including receivers Ceedee Lamb and Amari Cooper told reporters they expect him to play, noting their quarterback looked “regular” and “the same” to his targets.
Jones, eternally an optimist, said Friday morning that he’d “like to think Dak can go and will think that.”
“Things are looking good right now about Dak,” Jones added during his regular radio interview with Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan.
But the owner who has not wavered in his positive reports on Prescott admitted the confidence wasn’t grounded in a specific medical clearance.
“I’m not so sure how much of it’s ‘want to’ on my part or how much of it is factual,” Jones conceded. “We’ll really need to see come Sunday and that’s a few days away, as you know. We’ll have to take a good look at it at that time. But he’s preparing to play and he’ll be prepared to play and he’s doing really well.
“You get into it is he doing well enough to go out there and try and see how it goes? Probably.”
That belief in Prescott’s physical and mental ability to effectively control the game Sunday has been largely consistent through the organization. The bigger question points to the risk of reinjury.
“There’s no question he’s going to be the most pro person on the planet to play,” Jones said. “I think we understand the competitive aspect of that thing. (But also) I think he’s aware of what’s at stake here and what’s the future.”
Prescott suffered the calf strain on the final play of a 35-29 overtime road win against the New England Patriots in Week 6. Prescott had escaped right on a designed rollout, bypassing his first read (tight end Dalton Schultz, covered in the flat) for wide receiver Ceedee Lamb as Lamb streaked down the right sideline.
Lamb secured the catch and raced toward the end-zone to cap off his 149yard, two-touchdown night. But Prescott “came down funny” and felt pain in his calf. During his postgame press conference and at the Star the next day, he wore a walking boot.
The Cowboys first signed backup Cooper Rush as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He spent three years as Prescott’s backup, rejoining the team last year after Prescott’s injury. He knows the system and his teammates closely, but a start Sunday would be his first as a pro. Rush has attempted just three passes in his NFL career, completing one in a 2017 contest. He rushed twice in that contest for 13 yards. Teammates and coaches express confidence in what Rush could do surrounded by weapons and protected by what Pro Football Focus ranks as the league’s top offensive line. The Cowboys could activate their third quarterback, Will Grier, as well.
“Cooper’s had a really good week,” Mccarthy said Friday. “Will’s taken a lot more snaps so it’s good for him. I think both those guys, any time you get reps as a quarterback.”
BENGALS (5-2) AT JETS (1-5)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bengals by 91⁄2 Bengals’ keys: The Bengals should look to pick apart a young secondary with Ja’marr and Tyler Boyd, and TE C.J. Uzomah might get an shot to find the end zone again.
Jets’ keys: QB Mike White will start. He looked slow last week, but the Bengals’ defense has been susceptible to the pass but not the run.
RAMS (6-1) AT TEXANS (1-6)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Rams by 141⁄2 Rams’ keys: Control the tempo with QB Matthew Stafford, methodically moving the ball with RB Darrell Henderson or using the passing attack to bury Houston early. Texans’ keys: Penalties and turnovers have been a problem. WR Brandin Cooks has been the lone consistent element on offense.
TITANS (5-2) AT COLTS (3-4)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Colts by 21⁄2 Titans’ keys: The offense must run through RB Derrick Henry, who totaled 144 yards in Week 3 against Indy.
Colts’ keys: QB Carson Wentz needs to continue pushing the ball downfield to WRS Michael Pittman Jr. and T.Y. Hilton. DT Grover Stewart must lead the way in stopping the run game.
STEELERS (3-3) AT BROWNS (4-3)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Browns by 31⁄2 Steelers’ keys: The offense will have to protect QB Ben Roethlisberger to keep Browns DES Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney from controlling the game. Browns’ keys: The offense needs a healthy line to open up holes. RB Nick Chubb (calf) could return, but D’ernest Johnson can carry the load.
EAGLES (2-5) AT LIONS (0-7)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Eagles by 31⁄2 Eagles’ keys: Sticking to the run with RB Miles Sanders, RB Kenneth Gainwell and QB Jalen Hurts would make life easier for Hurts in what has been an inconsistent and inefficient passing game. Lions’ keys: Scoring early would be huge in boosting a run game led by Jamaal Williams and D’andre Swift.
49ERS (2-4) AT BEARS (3-4)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: 49ers by 31⁄2 49ers’ keys: The onus is on the offensive line to contend with a Bears pass rush featuring OLBS Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn that’s one of the best in the NFL.
Bears’ keys: Run the football against a San Francisco defense giving up more than 100 rushing yards a game and protect rookie QB Justin Fields.
PANTHERS (3-4) AT FALCONS (3-3)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Falcons by 31⁄2 Panthers’ keys: The real key for the Panthers will be moving the ball. The best way is to expose the Falcons’ lack of defensive depth. Look for QB Sam Darnold to use his legs on third down.
Falcons’ keys: The Panthers are without star RB Christian Mccaffrey, so Atlanta can focus on slowing RB Chuba Hubbard.
DOLPHINS (1-6) AT BILLS (4-2)
TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bills by 131⁄2 Dolphins’ keys: Miami must start better than it did in a Week 2 blowout loss to the Bills and play smarter too. The Dolphins had three giveaways against Buffalo.
Bills’ keys: They should go after turnovers. Look for the safety pairing of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer to help accomplish that goal.
PATRIOTS (3-4) AT CHARGERS (4-2) TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Chargers by 51⁄2 Patriots’ keys: Exploit the Chargers’ run defense, which is allowing 162.5 yards per game, last in the NFL. Chargers’ keys: Use quick passes and play-action in the passing game. After seeing how the Ravens attacked QB Justin Herbert, the Patriots are going to draw up something similar to get after him.
JAGUARS (1-5) AT SEAHAWKS (2-5)
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Seahawks by 31⁄2 Jaguars’ keys: They need to improve on third-down plays (31.34% conversions, lowest in the NFL).
Seahawks’ keys: A balanced offense to help take pressure off QB Geno Smith, largely falling on RB Rashaad Penny. Penny, activated ahead of Week 7, managed only 9 yards on six carries vs. the Saints.
WASHINGTON (2-5) AT BRONCOS (3-4) TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Broncos by 31⁄2 Washington’s keys: Be aggressive in the passing game, targeting WR Terry Mclaurin deep. The Broncos have allowed a deep (48 yards or more) TD pass in three of their last four games. Broncos’ keys: Teddy Bridgewater could have a strong day against Washington’s underperforming secondary.
BUCCANEERS (6-1) AT SAINTS (4-2) TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Bucs by 51⁄2 Buccaneers’ keys: They can’t allow the Saints to control the pace. The Bucs may need a heavy workload for RB Leonard Fournette to do that. Saints’ keys: Tampa Bay has had a rough time defending the furthest reaches of the field, and that’s where QB Jameis Winston needs to attack early and often.
COWBOYS (5-1) AT VIKINGS (3-3)
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC
Tipico Sportsbook line: Cowboys by 11⁄2 Cowboys’ keys: The offense shouldn’t have too much trouble picking apart the inexperienced Minnesota secondary. Add in Dallas CB Trevon Diggs’ knack for creating turnovers, and it’s hard to see the Vikings running away with this. Vikings’ keys: Kirk Cousins is capable of moving the ball against this defense.
GIANTS (2-5) AT CHIEFS (3-4)
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN
Tipico Sportsbook line: Chiefs by 91⁄2 Giants’ keys: K.C. QB Patrick Mahomes has been erratic in the passing game; let the likes of DL Leonard Williams and LB Azeez Ojulari make it a long day for him.
Chiefs’ keys: The offense couldn’t protect Mahomes in a loss to the Titans or get out of its own way in terms of penalties, drops and turnovers.