Dak Prescott signed a lucrative endorsement deal with the Jordan Brand as he rehabbed from injury during the offseason. But following the biggest win yet of his comeback campaign, a walk-off overtime win over the New England Patriots, the Cowboys quarterback was sporting a rather generic- and somewhat concerning- choice of footwear when he addressed the media after the game.
“I figured we weren’t playing for a week, so I would give you guys something to talk about and speculate on this time. So there you go,” Prescott joked in explaining the plastic walking boot immobilizing his right foot. “Might get Jordan to make one of these.”
Prescott will get an MRI on Monday, according to the team. The passer reportedly suffered a calf strain on the final play of the contest, a 35-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb that ended the rollercoaster ride in Foxborough in dramatic fashion, giving Dallas a 35-29 victory.
“The last throw, I just came down funny,” Prescott confirmed. “That’s what it was. Something that will be checked out. I’ll be fine, I can promise you that. Great time to be going into the bye week. As I said, you all can have fun with it this week.”
“I figure we’re not playing for a week, so I’d give you guys (media) something to talk about and speculate on.
“So there you go.” _ Dak Prescott pic.twitter.com/acJtETYgot
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) October 18, 2021
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As ESPN’s injury analyst Stephania Bell explained on Twitter, “Walking boot has an elevated heel. Helps rock foot forward when walking thereby decreasing work of calf (doesn’t have to push off). Smart proactive move, even if not serious.”
Prescott felt good enough to do a postgame interview with CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson in the moments after the injury. But he was noticeably limping on the field after the game went final, and received assistance from running back Ezekiel Elliott getting back to the visitors locker room.
The scene as Dak Prescott was assisted to the #Cowboys locker room by Ezekiel Elliott with what team describes as a right calf injury. Timely bye week next for team. Quarterback to be further evaluated tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/f1yvpTBu02
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) October 18, 2021
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Yet the veteran in his sixth season says he could have played on had the game not ended when it did.
“For sure,” he told reporters. “It was a little pain, but, for sure I would’ve been able to keep going. Obviously, I think the adrenaline would’ve been up and [I] may not have even felt it at the time. I think at the time you relax you’re like, ‘Oh, there it is.’”
The 28-year-old, in his sixth game back after an eleven-month recovery from a brutal right ankle dislocation and compound fracture admitted that last year’s injury colored his immediate reaction to feeling something “funny” when he came down on the same leg on the last play of Sunday’s game.
“Yeah, it’s like, ‘No way.’ Life keeps throwing punches, and I’m going to keep throwing them back,” Prescott said. “It’s part of it, it’s part of this game. It’s a physical game we play. As I said, I’ll be fine. I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself and the medical team. As I said, I feel good; obviously, this is a precaution… It doesn’t hurt as bad, obviously, when you score and you win the game.”
Dr. David Chao, sports medical analyst for SiriusXM Radio, said in a YouTube update, “I do not see a significant calf strain,” based on video of the play in question. He pointed to an Instagram clip that showed Prescott taking “many further steps” after landing awkwardly as he made the game-winning throw. “I have reasonable confidence that Dak will be fine,” Chao said, for the team’s next game.
The Cowboys are off in Week 7. Their next game comes October 31 in a Sunday night meeting with the Vikings in Minnesota.