Jones says Cowboys still have hope
“Obviously,” Jerry Jones said, losing quarterback Dak Prescott for the season “does impact expectations.”
But the often-optimistic Cowboys owner isn’t counting out his 2-3 team’s NFL postseason chances yet. “This is a different year,” Jones said Tuesday morning on Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan. “If you have ever had one you could approach in an unorthodox way, this is it. Certainly in the big scheme of things to lose players important in the position as Dak. Then, we’ve got to basically adjust.”
Prescott completed 68% of his passes for 1,856 yards and nine touchdowns through four and a half games, adding three rushing scores and one receiving. On Sunday, he was carted off the field in a matchup with the Giants and shortly afterward had surgery for a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. He was discharged from the hospital Monday.
Andy Dalton stepped in as his replacement, completing 9 of 11 passes for 111 yards to cap off Dallas’ 37-34 win over the Giants. “Andy Dalton is a player that can get the job done in the NFL,” Jones said. “He’s a starting quarterback, and I’m being trite when I say this. And I think he’s a starting quarterback on any various successful winning teams.”
Dalton takes over a team that’s escaped with two last-minute wins over winless teams. An injury-hampered O-line, growing pains with a new coaching staff and a defense riddled with issues mute fan optimism over Dallas leading a weak NFC East.
Jones acknowledged the team under Dalton will need to “be more balanced, which means more running.” Dallas hopes to aid Dalton and an offensive line down three starters by relying more on a run game with three-time Pro Bowl back Ezekiel Elliott.
“But Andy gives us the ability to run our offense as we’ve got it structured right now,” Jones said.
Prescott is expected to face a four- to six-month recovery timeline, the Cowboys optimistic he’ll be physically capable of participating in spring offseason activities. Jerry Jones and vice president Stephen Jones each said the injury does not alter their long-term plan for Prescott, who has started the last 69 games for Dallas, to remain their franchise quarterback of the future, though he remains unsigned beyond this year.
Jones said Prescott’s forthcoming missed time also reminds him why the Cowboys aim to avoid paying top-market value at a position without consideration of the salary cap impact on other realms of the team. Prescott played 2020 on a $31.4 million franchise tag that’s fully guaranteed for this season.
“Dak is deserving of anything you want to put on a piece of paper relatively speaking,” Jones said. “If you evaluate what he can do to help us win championships, you can see that it’s there. (But) we do not go into a contract negotiation with the idea that it stands alone. It has to be a part of your tools which you have, which is your salary cap to put a team on the field and try to figure out the best way to win. And really, that’s the underlying issue here.”