FRISCO — Nothing happens to us. Only for us.
Dak Prescott holds that sentiment close these days. The Cowboys quarterback had no intention of focusing on next season while emotionally sifting through what has taken place this year, but that’s where he finds himself the week before Thanksgiving.
Prescott spoke to The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday afternoon. In his first comments since undergoing season-ending surgery for a partial proximal hamstring avulsion, Prescott discussed the excruciating details of the injury, explained what went into the decision for surgery and talked about how long he’ll be on crutches.
Long days and months of rehabilitation lie ahead before Prescott is cleared to take part in the team’s offseason program in the spring. But that only addresses the practical aspects of managing the injury.
The Cowboys quarterback, an outspoken advocate for mental health, has experienced the birth of his daughter, proposed to his girlfriend and signed an extension that will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history. On the field his performance was erratic as he presided over the team’s unexpected dive in the standings.
“It’s been a tough year personally with my emotions because it’s a roller coaster,’’ Prescott told The News when reflecting on the last 11 months. “It’s truly been ups and downs. I would say riding a wave I’m constantly preaching about not riding.
“Off the field, it’s been some of the most joyous times I ever could have imagined, dreamed of. Having a child, getting engaged, starting a family.
“But then on the football field, it’s probably been as tough of a season as I’ve ever had. I’d probably say the toughest.’’
Hanging by a thread
Prescott felt something pull in a way “he had never felt before’' in the loss to Atlanta on Nov. 3. An MRI exam confirmed the severity of the injury.
Three tendons connect the hamstring muscle to the pelvis. Two were completely torn off the bone. The third was attached and was no more than three centimeters off the bone.
A complete tear would have made the decision for Prescott. Surgery would have been the only course. But this partial tear fell into a gray area.
Dr. Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ physician, gave Prescott the options. He sought three other opinions. All told him essentially the same thing.
Prescott would need to rest for four weeks before rehab could even begin. Once he began to work his way back to the field, there was no assurance the hamstring would hold.
“At the end of the day, we were hoping in six weeks I could start gaining strength, which is what all of the doctors were telling me,’’ Prescott said. “But if I waited and rehabbed it, I may or may not be able to regain strength.
“Even if I did, there was still a chance it would likely tear off.’’
The final MRI he had simply confirmed his decision. It showed the final tendon had moved ever closer to that three centimeter mark that makes surgery a no-brainer.
“It started to lift off the bone even more,’’ Prescott said. “That one was doing all the work, and now it was compromised.
“Hell, I had a week of not even playing football, just walking and normal movement and that was tearing it.’’
He underwent surgery in New York last week.
What anchors Prescott
Prescott was excited going into 2024. He was coming off the best season of his career and was ready to take the next step with this team.
It never materialized. The Cowboys had fallen to 3-5 the day he walked off the field in Atlanta. He completed 64.7% of his passes for 1,978 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
His quarterback rating of 86 was the lowest of his career.
“Not playing up to my standards, turning the ball over more than I have,’’ Prescott said. “Just uncharacteristic. But at the same time, mentally feeling as well as I ever have about the game, as smart as I ever have, as sharp as I ever.
“Leaving some of those games mentally it was like, ‘man, I saw it the best and clearest I’ve ever seen it’ but maybe I didn’t execute that way or the team didn’t execute that way.’’
Prescott wrestled with those conflicting emotions. Going home to Sarah Jane and their daughter, MJ, helped.
“It put things in perspective,’’ Prescott said. “At work I would be upset with this or that, but you get home and see your fiancee and baby and they don’t give a damn about what happened at work, win, lose or draw.
“That makes you able to focus, keeps you on track, one foot in front of the other and controlling what I can.
“I would say honestly, the balance of that perspective has been the roller coaster.’’
Prescott has actively worked to improve his mental health since entering the NFL. Faith, family, the Cowboys and Luke Miller, the quarterback’s personal physical therapist, have formed an invaluable support system.
It helps him cope.
“They anchor me,’’ he said.
A positive person by nature, Prescott has also learned to lean into the down moments along the way.
“The other day, after the game, I guess, it all just hit me,’’ Prescott said of watching his team lose Monday night. “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.
“It’s understanding and being able to voice that, ‘yeah, I’m blessed to be where I’m at.’’'
Looking ahead
Prescott spoke to The Dallas Morning News after a rehab session. It wasn’t much. Mainly core work to keep the muscles firing around the hamstring.
He should be off the crutches by Christmas. He should be able to discard the brace that keeps his leg from fully extending by then if not before.
Then the real work begins.
He’s ready.
“I can’t just sit around and do nothing,’’ Prescott said. “I need some wins. I need some small victories. I need to see that I’m taking a step forward even when it looks like I’m in place.
“There is a future. I know which direction I’m headed in. I know I will be faster, stronger and better than I ever have by the way I will attack this.’’
Catch David Moore and Robert Wilonsky as they co-host Intentional Grounding on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. through the Super Bowl.
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