The Cowboys Nation alarms went off earlier today when Quarterback Dak Prescott was seen dealing with the team's medical staff and left practice. Thankfully, Dallas has confirmed that Dak is only dealing with a right shoulder strain following an MRI.
Prescott reported soreness in his throwing arm early in today's training camp practice and did not return. Garrett Gilbert, Cooper Rush, and Ben DiNucci handled the throws and it was Gilbert who got the 1st-team work in Dak's absence.
Keeping an eye on QB Dak Prescott. Not competing in team drills here. Garrett Gilbert with the 1's. Was consulting with trainer before trotting off to locker room #Cowboys
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 28, 2021
Per Cowboys update on Dak Prescott.
“After leaving today's practice early with soreness in his right arm, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott underwent an MRI examination in Oxnard, CA. The results of that test showed that Prescott has a muscle strain in his right shoulder.— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 28, 2021
https://twitter.com/GehlkenNFL/status/1420522359337881600
Any injury talk around the starting QB is a bad thing for all teams. But after 2020, it's especially maddening for Prescott and Cowboys fans who are counting on his healthy return to get Dallas back to the playoffs.
It is worth noting that the Cowboys have a game coming next Thursday, the Hall of Fame meeting against the Steelers. If Dallas decides to play it safe and keep Prescott out of that game, it would give Gilbert another chance to start (albeit preseason) against Pittsburgh.
Dallas' near upset of the Steelers was Gilbert's only appearance in 2020, subbing for one week until Andy Dalton return from injury.
Thankfully for Dak and for Dallas, this appears to be a small and forgettable blip on the radar. Hopefully Prescott will return soon and continue preparing for the season, and we'll get to see him line up with the starters next week in Canton.
