Cowboys not putting Prescott on IR
FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys are not putting quarterback Dak Prescott on injured reserve after surgery on his right thumb, leaving open the possibility that he could return within the next four games.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday during his weekly appearance on the team’s flagship radio station that the team wants Prescott “to be a consideration for playing within the next four games.“That is the minimum number of games a player has to miss if placed on injured reserve.
“We feel very good after surgery, after listening to the medical people, that Dak has a real chance to be back out there throwing the ball real quick,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan.
Prescott had surgery Monday, a day after he got hurt in the fourth quarter of a season-opening 19-3 loss at home to Tampa Bay. He was following through after releasing a pass when his right hand bent awkwardly after making hard contact with the raised hands of rushing linebacker Shaq Barrett.
“We think he can come in and play. So, we don’t want to not have him out there practicing. We want him getting prepared,” Jones said. “We’ll see how he handles this thing, how it heals, mainly his strength, how he can grip the ball, what his status is. That’s not being an optimist. The proof is we got a good surgery, got good technique, and feel better about it than we did the other night.”
Steelers’ Watt out at least one week
Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt will miss Sunday’s game against New England with a left pectoral injury.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday the NFL Defensive Player of the Year won’t play against the Patriots, but indicated the nature of the injury isn’t as bad as initially feared.
Watt sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of a 23-20 overtime victory over Cincinnati.
There were initial concerns that Watt could be out an extended period. Tomlin said the team is not in a rush to decide whether Watt should be placed on injured reserve.
Blankenship cut after OT misfire
Rodrigo Blankenship’s three-year run with the Indianapolis Colts ended Tuesday when he was waived two days after slicing a 42-yard field goal to the right in overtime and sending two fourthquarter kickoffs out of bounds.
The Colts wound up settling for a 20-20 tie at Houston — the franchise’s first in 40 years.
Blankenship will be replaced by either Chase McLaughlin or Lucas Havrisik on Sunday in Jacksonville.
The two kickers were signed to the practice squad and will spend this week fighting for the job Blankenship lost.
Titans’ Moore, Hand head to IR
The Tennessee Titans placed defensive back A.J. Moore and defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand on injured reserve.
The Titans also signed defensive back Nate Brooks to the practice squad.
Moore hurt an ankle late in the first quarter of the Titans’ opening loss to the New York Giants. He limped to the sideline following a Giants punt return, and Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Moore was a solid special teams contributor who was building a role on defense.
Chiefs coach Reid critical of turf
Chiefs coach Andy Reid criticized the field inside State Farm Stadium after two Kansas City players slipped on the turf and sustained injuries during their 44-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Harrison Butker’s plant foot slipped awkwardly during a kickoff early in the game, forcing the Chiefs to use safety Justin Reid for most of their kickoffs and extra points the rest of the way, while first-round pick Trent McDuffie hurt his hamstring when the young cornerback’s feet slipped during an otherwise impressive debut.