Prescott ready for cowboys’ opener vs. bucs

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is less than a week from playing for the first time since his horrific ankle injury almost 11 months ago, with little practice in training camp and no preseason games to help with the recovery.

No matter, he says. Bring on Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.

“I’m definitely ready,” Prescott said Friday. “I put in a lot of work to get to this point. Whether it was months ago, rehabbing the ankle, to the last few [weeks] keeping the feet working while I was letting my arm rest.”

Prescott was just starting to push his twice surgically repaired right ankle to the limits in practice when a right shoulder strain cropped up early in camp in California. He had to settle for mental reps behind the offense for a month before the training staff let him throw with full force last week.

Now the Cowboys say there are no limitations for the 2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year as the club gets set for the routine of game week before the opener Thursday.

Prescott didn’t know if throwing too much while recovering from the compound fracture and dislocation of the ankle led to the issues with the shoulder early in camp. Regardless, when he was cleared to throw that hard again, Prescott didn’t worry about limiting the velocity or frequency of throws.

“I think that’s just the way I play the game,” Prescott said. “I just went out there and playing within the moment, ripping passes, not thinking about it. Then after two days like that, realizing there wasn’t any residual effect and I wasn’t sore, I’ve been sticking to the plan and it’s all worked out.”

THIS AND THAT

Jets starting wide receiver Jamison Crowder reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, jeopardizing his status for the season opener against the Panthers.

The Steelers bolstered their secondary depth, acquiring cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon from the Seahawks for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft.

The Giants will retire Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan’s No. 92 on Nov. 28, when they host the Eagles.