Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is officially done for the season after suffering a significant hamstring injury during the Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The All-Pro quarterback, who signed a four-year contract extension worth $240 million just ahead of the season, now finds himself on the sidelines, forced to watch as his teammates continue the season without him.
Since Prescott’s injury, things have not gone well for the Cowboys. Backup quarterback Cooper Rush has stepped in to fill Prescott’s shoes, but his performance has been underwhelming.
In his two starts since Prescott went down, Rush has thrown for only 399 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Unfortunately, those stats haven’t been enough to keep the Cowboys competitive, and the team has struggled mightily in Prescott’s absence, losing both games by a combined 52 points.
The latest loss was especially painful for America’s Team. On Monday Night Football, the Cowboys were thoroughly outplayed by their cross-state rivals, the Houston Texans, in a 34-10 blowout. The Texans, who were considered underdogs going into the game, dominated Dallas in all aspects, handing the Cowboys one of their worst defeats of the season.
The loss to the Texans hit Prescott particularly hard. In an emotional conversation with the Dallas Morning News, Prescott revealed that watching his team struggle without him brought him to tears. The star quarterback opened up about how difficult it has been to be sidelined, unable to help his teammates during such a challenging stretch.
“The other day, after the game, I guess it all just hit me,” Prescott told David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “Boom, right. A couple of tears came down. This is going to hurt. It’s going to suck at times. You just have to understand this is one of the moments that it does. I don’t want anything right now other than to let it suck.”
Prescott’s emotional honesty highlights just how tough it can be for star athletes to cope with serious injuries. It is clear that being unable to contribute on the field is a heavy burden for him, especially after signing a major contract and having such high hopes for the season. Prescott has always been known for his resilience and leadership, but even the strongest athletes have moments of vulnerability, and it is commendable that Prescott is willing to be open about his mental and emotional struggles.
The Cowboys are now faced with the challenge of turning their season around without their franchise quarterback. With Prescott out of action, the pressure is on Cooper Rush and the rest of the team to find a way to stay competitive. The Cowboys have a talented roster, but losing a leader like Prescott has undoubtedly had a significant impact on their performance and morale.
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Dallas will have a chance to bounce back when they face off against the Washington Commanders in an NFC East clash on Sunday.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET, and the Cowboys will be hoping to put the recent struggles behind them and find a way to get back in the win column. For Prescott, it will be another difficult game to watch from the sidelines, but he remains hopeful that his teammates can rally and find success even without him on the field.
The emotional toll of watching his team struggle without being able to help is evident, but Prescott’s openness about his feelings is a reminder that athletes, no matter how tough, are human too.
His vulnerability is an example of leadership in its own right—showing that it’s okay to acknowledge when things are tough and that even the strongest competitors have moments of weakness.
As the Cowboys continue to navigate the rest of the season, Prescott’s presence and support from the sidelines will still be an invaluable asset to his teammates.
