Cowboys news: Dak Prescott preparing for a follow-up MRI, wants to play in the preseason next week

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Dak To Get Another MRI; Still Eyeing Sept. 9 Game – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

Apparently — and the Cowboys really want to stress this — Dak Prescott’s follow-up MRI isn’t the result of a setback. As such, we shouldn’t worry.

It’s not a setback. And it’s not a reason to worry.

But when the Cowboys break training camp in Oxnard and return home this weekend, quarterback Dak Prescott is planning on getting another MRI to check out his right shoulder strain.

Prescott told the media on Wednesday that he’s making good progress with the injury that has kept him out of practice for more than a week.

Not only has there not been a setback in his rehab, but Prescott resumed some light throwing earlier this week. He was able to throw with Amari Cooper on Tuesday as both players work back from injury.

Prescott said he’s on a pitch-count for now and he’s not even throwing at full strength, which is by design.

“Once I get back in the team setting, I’m not going to think about my arm,” Prescott said. “It’s about progressing at the right time. It all felt good out there. Every throw I made. When they tell you stop, you don’t want to hear it, but you (stop).”

Dak Prescott playing in Cowboys’ third preseason game is ‘the plan’ – Nick Shook, NFL.com

While Prescott’s focus is on opening night against Tom Brady and the Bucs, the QB hopes to make his preseason debut against the Texans in Dallas’s third preseason game.

Dak Prescott’s progression has taken an encouraging turn in the last few days, which might lead to an on-field debut surprisingly soon.

Prescott spoke Wednesday afternoon and provided reporters with the first significant details of his shoulder strain, which has kept him out of action for much of camp. Prescott described the injury as a “freak accident” and still isn’t sure how it happened. More importantly, it sounds as if he might still get a chance to play in the preseason as he’d hoped when camp began.

The target date for Prescott’s potential participation is Aug. 21, when the Cowboys face the Texans. Barring any unforeseen setbacks or unfortunate circumstances, Prescott expects to throw in Monday’s practice and is aiming to play against Houston.

“Uh yeah, that’s the plan,” Prescott said when asked if he was scheduled to throw Monday and looking to play against the Texans. “Obviously if everything keeps progressing the way it’s been. I’m going to be optimistic about that. Obviously, keep doing the things that I need to do. Being very cautious with it though. Making sure that more importantly, I’m ready for the season opener.”

Notebook: Malik Hooker Getting Close; More – Staff writers, DallasCowboys.com

The Cowboys’ newest safety is nearing a return following a 2020 Achilles tear.

Safety Malik Hooker did some individual work in pads for the first time in training camp, and Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones believes Hooker will ramp up his practice work soon.

“Hopefully next week. Hopefully he’ll be jumping in,” Jones said.

Hooker signed with the Cowboys on July 27, but the club has made an effort to gradually increase his field work because he missed the final 14 games of last season with a torn Achilles’ tendon as a member of the Colts.

“Getting better. He’s getting close,” head coach Mike McCarthy said.

What we learned about the Dallas Cowboys on the first episode of ‘Hard Knocks’ – Clarence E. Hill Jr, Fort-Worth Star Telegram

The first episode of Hard Knocks was released Sunday night. Unsurprisingly, Dak Prescott was a focal point, coming off a severe ankle injury in 2020, but Cowboys’ first-round draft pick Micah Parsons also impressed, both off the field and on.

First-round pick Micah Parsons is going to be a star on the field, and a darling of the “Hard Knocks” cameras.

The former Penn State linebacker simply has it.

But the focus of Episode 1, and possibly the Cowboys season, was quarterback Dak Prescott and coach Mike McCarthy.

The show predictably opened with Prescott talking about his tough 2020 season that began with him losing his brother to suicide, and ended with him suffering a gruesome ankle injury in Week 5 and missing the final 11 games.

The injury is still hard to watch.

Prescott said he had two surgeries — the second one they tried to keep secret — resulting in a wishbone-like scar on his ankle.

“From a season of adversity to a season of triumph,” Prescott says in the beginning.

Highlighting Prescott’s return from a fractured ankle, especially after getting a $160 million contract to lead the downtrodden franchise back to glory, is one of the main reasons HBO wanted to feature the Cowboys on “Hard Knocks” for a third time.

Updates: Gregory Wants Some Preseason Snaps – Staff, DallasCowboys.com

Randy Gregory would definitely like to get some preseason work in.

Randy Gregory wants some work.

It’d be easy to forgive a seventh-year veteran for wanting to rest up before an 18-week regular season, but that’s not the case here. Asked how many snaps he thinks he needs this preseason, Gregory was blunt.

“A lot, I think. If it was up to me I would’ve played last game,” he said. “I obviously want to play this week and next week and the week after that, but that’ll be more of a game time decision.”

Gregory did acknowledge that decisions on preseason snaps aren’t up to him, but he is hoping for a chance to knock the rust off soon.

NFL position battles to watch in training camp: Who will win the quarterback jobs for the Patriots, Saints and Broncos? – Todd Archer, ESPN

ESPN looked at the big position battle for each team. For the Cowboys:

Linebacker

The group looks to be as deep as it has been in years, and how defensive coordinator Dan Quinn divvies up the work will be interesting. Jaylon Smith played 97.8% of the snaps last season. If it’s that high again, it would be surprising. Not because of Smith, necessarily, but because of the packages and different looks Quinn wants to give. This year’s first-round pick, Micah Parsons, has had a strong camp and made plays from multiple spots. Leighton Vander Esch, their No. 1 pick in 2018, has looked as good as he did when he made the Pro Bowl. Keanu Neal has made a smooth transition from safety to linebacker and has Quinn’s trust. Those are four players to mix in for two spots most of the time, considering how much they will use a sub package. Parsons and Smith can rush from the outside, which will allow Quinn to be versatile. — Todd Archer

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