Stop me if you’ve heard this before: this has been the offseason of Dak Prescott in Dallas. Whether it be fanbase disputes over whether or not he should return, the front office waiting on a contract extension, or the walking boot controversy that sent people into a panic, there has been no shortage of headlines for the Cowboys quarterback in 2024.
Of course, that comes with the job, and surely Prescott is used to the noise by now. After all, he is coming off the best year of his career, and the worst playoff loss of his career, too.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott finished second in NFL MVP voting.
Lamar Jackson won by a large margin, receiving 49 of 50 first place votes
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 9, 2024
A second-place MVP finish highlighted a dominant regular season, but it was an awful performance against the Green Bay Packers that dominated Dak Prescott’s playoff and offseason narrative.
In short, the last 9 months have been a whirlwind for Prescott, and things are only getting crazier.
As I mentioned, the two hot-button issues with Dak recently have been his contract and his ankle, thanks to a social media post showing him walking in a boot.
Dak Prescott estuvo este fin de semana en Los Cabos. En la alberca caminó normal peeeeeeero esta foto de @QuarterbackEl muestra que tiene una lesión en el tobillo derecho! #NFL pic.twitter.com/Ynok6Gh2gG
— 🏆 Juan Carlos Vázquez (@elnarrador) July 3, 2024
Fans, understandably, are looking for some clarity on these things.
Luckily for us, we got some from the man himself on Monday, so let’s talk about what he said.
Ankle Injury Update from Dak Prescott
It felt like conversations around Dak Prescott’s ankle had faded away. After all, it has been four years since that terrible October day when he gruesomely broke it.
But, that all changed last week with this walking boot “controversy.”
Questions around an unknown new injury, problems from the old one, and I’m sure much more were sparked from this. It took some time, but we finally have something concrete from Prescott.
Speaking to the media on Monday, he said there is “absolutely nothing” wrong with the ankle.
"People are reaching trying to make things that they aren't."
Dak Prescott was seen wearing a boot on his fishing trip and said he just wanted to protect his ankle. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/AAUXALLBDS
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 9, 2024
If you were listening closely when he said it, you could probably hear the exhale from Cowboys fans everywhere.
Prescott went on to say it was just a precaution as a result of some soreness. Considering the extent of his previous injury to that ankle, I’m surprised he isn’t wearing a walking boot more often for soreness.
As he said to the media, his body is simply getting older.
This will be the first season for Dak Prescott as a professional starting quarterback in his 30s. Some maintenance will be required going forward, and that’s not a bad or surprising thing.
Essentially, let’s stop the pearl-clutching over this.
Dak Prescott’s ankle is fine.
Dak Prescott’s Developing Contract Saga
No matter where you stand on the issue, I think we’re all a little bit tired of hearing about Dak Prescott’s contract. There is still likely some fatigue from the last time, and now, it’s getting drawn out even more.
At the beginning of the offseason, a new deal for Prescott was expected immediately.
Stephen Jones said he wants to get contract extensions done with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. No timetable. pic.twitter.com/QZJ8UBubFe
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) February 27, 2024
Getting a deal done before free agency would have saved a ton of money.
As time went on, there was no deal. Then, it was the big-name reporters saying he was expected to hit free agency in 2025.
I never quite bought that, but it was concerning.
An extension for Dak Prescott in August is still the most likely outcome. His comments on Monday seem to allude to that.
Prescott said there have been “new conversations” about an extension.
Speaking at his youth camp, Dak Prescott talks on his contract extension talks saying that “there have been conversations back and forth” but that once training camp starts, his “mind flips” to helping the team.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/wULbW8R8ml
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) July 9, 2024
As always, he added he leaves that stuff his agent, but he’s still acknowledging there have been new talks.
That’s a pretty big step in the right direction. The previous reporting was that there were no discussions and that parting ways after the season seemed likely.
Prescott walking would be disastrous for the future of the organization, so this update is much needed and good to hear.
While we still have a long way to go in this story, an extension for Dak Prescott seems to be getting closer.
