The Cowboys’ slide has known as into query their offseason choices, with Jerry Jones‘ inactivity on the middle of many discussions. The longtime proprietor did finally pay his two contract-year standouts, nevertheless, however the offers for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have preceded a 3-5 report.
This case could effectively worsen quickly, as Prescott’s hamstring damage is anticipated to sideline him. Exams have revealed the difficulty to be worse than initially suspected, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, who report a multi-week absence is on faucet for the ninth-year quarterback. Though Prescott will search a second opinion, Rapoport adds, no less than a short-term absence must be anticipated.
Jones had mentioned he was frightened about Prescott’s availability for Dallas’ Week 10 matchup in opposition to Philadelphia, and the reigning MVP runner-up went via an MRI Monday.
Prescott broken his hamstring on a scramble in opposition to the Falcons, per AllDLLS.com’s Clarence Hill, however visibly aggravated it throughout a subsequent go try. It’s not but recognized if IR is in play, although committing to Prescott lacking 4 video games could be a threat as a result of Dallas’ early season struggles.
The damage moved two-stint Dak backup Cooper Rush into motion, as the previous UDFA changed Prescott as he did in 2022 throughout the starter’s time away as a result of a finger damage. Rush is the Cowboys backup, however EVP Stephen Jones opened the door to some Trey Lance work (via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris) as effectively. Lance joins Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Mac Jones as 2021 first-round QB draftees in contract years as reserves. Wilson and Lance, the Nos. 2 and three picks that 12 months, respectively, entered the season as third-stringers.
After it seemed like Prescott would go right into a contract 12 months, the Cowboys finalized a deal hours earlier than their Week 1 kickoff in Cleveland. Prescott’s extraordinary leverage led to a $60M-per-year extension that included the no-tag and no-trade clauses his second deal — which additionally got here with the QB in a novel leverage place — ended up together with.
This got here after the Cowboys made Lamb the NFL’s second-highest-paid huge receiver. Whereas accidents elsewhere have harm this Cowboys version, the Joneses have obtained scrutiny for not doing extra so as to add expertise elsewhere. These bills additionally got here months earlier than true Micah Parsons extension negotiations are anticipated to start.
Prescott, 31, has bounced again from absences earlier than. He finalized his first Dallas extension — 4 years, $160M — after a season-ending ankle damage.
Dak returned and didn’t miss a begin as a result of damage for the 2021 Cowboys, although he admitted this offseason that his ankle damage has continued to have an effect on him and requires common upkeep. Following the finger challenge, Prescott returned in that October and has not missed a begin since. That streak is anticipated to cease at 36 video games, introducing extra obstacles for a struggling Cowboys squad.
Final 12 months’s second-team All-Professional passer, Prescott, sits twenty fifth in QBR this season. The Cowboys introduced down his historic cap hit this 12 months however are tied to the previous fourth-round discover via no less than 2027 now.
Prescott is due a $47.75M base wage in 2025, and the Cowboys might want to alter his cap quantity — pushing more cash into future years — as a result of it at the moment residing at $89.89M. Even the Browns’ Deshaun Watson contract/calamity doesn’t enter that neighborhood by way of cap hits. The Cowboys will hope Prescott bounces again, however he obtained super safety in September.
Lance receiving work would symbolize essentially the most fascinating part right here, as he has gone from a 2022 49ers Week 1 starter to an afterthought. Sam Darnold beat out Lance to again up Brock Purdy in 2023, resulting in the Cowboys giving up a fourth-round choose for the previous North Dakota State star. Lance’s profession shortly drifted off monitor, and the ankle fracture he suffered in 2022 moved him to a crossroads.
No actual updates have modified that standing, regardless of a rumor indicating Lance might leapfrog Rush for the QB2 gig. That didn’t find yourself occurring. The Cowboys might actually contemplate going with a higher-upside play relatively than Rush, although the latter has seen in depth work in Mike McCarthy‘s offense and gives extra stability.
At 3-5 and in a lame-duck 12 months, McCarthy will lean towards stability over improvement. Nevertheless, it could be fascinating if possession overruled him — given the HC’s contract standing — on a possible play to see what Lance can contribute.
