Dallas Cowboys upping QB Dak Prescott’s throwing volume but it’s not yet ‘go time’
Let the Dallas Cowboys tell it, there is nothing about quarterback Dak Prescott’s rehab from a right shoulder strain that has them doubting his availability for the Sept. 9 season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Owner Jerry Jones said before Saturday’s 20-14 preseason loss to the Houston Texans that, “If we were lining up against Tampa tonight, he’d be starting, and we’d feel great about it.”
Since the Cowboys have a couple of more weeks before they lineup against Tampa Bay, they will remain conservative and cautious with Prescott.
He has yet to return to full practice or play in a preseason game since taking taking himself out of practice on July 28. The Cowboys began ramping up his volume of throws last week.
That will continue to be the plan for this week, coach coach Mike McCarthy said.
“Just moving the numbers, continue the volume of throws and continue to build the workload capacity we’re working to get back to,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said the Cowboys feel good about Prescott’s progress.
”I am sure you understand there is a lot of conversation of how you bring him back in,” McCarthy said. “I don’t want to get into a script where you only run certain concepts. When he gets in there he needs to be able to go play. That is partly why we are taking the precaution we are taking.
“I don’t want to get him in there and just throw screens and three-step drops. We will continue to work that and see how it shakes out this week.”
McCarthy made it clear that Prescott can make all the throws now.
But he said it’s important be cautious and follow the plan prescribed by the training staff.
“I just think when he’s able to cut it loose and we’re not worried about the velocity of throws or the distance of the throws and all that, that’s what we’re building up to,” McCarthy said.
He said when Prescott and the training staff feel “like it’s time to go, we’ll go.”
Go time is the season opener against the Buccaneers.
This story was originally published August 24, 2021 at 7:00 AM.
