Cowboys news: Andy Dalton gets his moment after Dak Prescott injury

Dak Prescott out of the hospital, recovering at home - Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk

Good news is that the surgery was successful. We wish Dak a speedy recovery.

Dallas coach Mike McCarthy confirmed today that Prescott had successful surgery and was released from the hospital, and he is now recovering at home.

Prescott appears to be done for the 2020 season, but Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones said the team still considers Prescott its quarterback of the future.

For Prescott to be the quarterback of the Cowboys’ future, he’ll need a new contract, as he’s currently playing on the one-year $31.4 million franchise tag. He’s slated to hit free agency again in the offseason. The Cowboys could keep him for another year with a one-year, $37.7 million franchise tag, or they could sign him to a long-term contract, or they could let him walk. Prescott has a lot to consider as he begins the long path to a return to the field.

A look back at Andy Dalton’s career before coming to the Cowboys - David Howman, BloggingTheBoys

Andy Dalton has the credentials, now we just have to hope he can deliver.

So Dalton entered the locker room as the de facto starter, asked to take up the mantle from a former first overall pick who hated the team so much he’d rather not play at all than play for them. It wasn’t exactly an ideal situation, but Dalton didn’t complain. Instead, he led the team to a 6-2 start and was challenging Newton for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The award ultimately went to Newton, as the Bengals faded down the stretch. Still, Dalton led the team to a 9-7 record with 3,398 passing yards on a 58.1% completion rate with 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, all while becoming the first rookie quarterback not drafted in the first round to start all 16 games of their rookie season.

This kicked off a very successful stretch for Dalton and the Bengals, as they would make the playoffs each of his first five seasons in the NFL. During that time, Dalton held a career record of 50-26-1 with 18,008 passing yards on a 62.3% completion rate with 124 touchdowns and 73 interceptions.

But if you remember anything about those Bengals teams, you know that the biggest knock on Dalton, as was the biggest knock on head coach Marvin Lewis, was an inability to win once they got to the playoffs. And Dalton was truly awful in the playoffs. In four games, Dalton averaged 218 passing yards with a dismal 55.7% completion rate with six picks and only one touchdown. In 2015, which was the Bengals’ fifth straight postseason appearance and last such appearance in franchise history, Dalton broke his finger in Week 13 and never played again that year as he missed the playoffs. Cincinnati lost anyway.

Trysten Hill’s Season Over After ACL Injury - David Helman, DallasCowboys.com

Hill was really coming on strong this season. Hopefully he comes back ready to go next season.

It’s an especially tough blow for a player who was seeming to enjoy a lot of development in his second season. Hill was used only sparingly, to put it mildly, during a rookie season that saw him regularly on the sideline. McCarthy had high praise for the progress he’s made in his second NFL season.

“Trysten has probably been – not being here last year, but coming off of last year’s tape and going to the virtual spring, has probably been our most improved defensive player, definitely our most improved defensive lineman,” McCarthy said. “I was just so excited about the progress that he was making.”

Asked about Hill on Monday morning, Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones noted that this is not the team’s first major setback at the defensive tackle position. Six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy was lost for the year during the very first padded practice of training camp, leaving the defense a bit undermanned at the position.

“As you know, we lost McCoy early and both of them played the same spot, the under tackle,” Jones said. “But we’ve got good depth at the position ... and that’s sort of what the league is right now. We’re having our challenges and we’ll accept them and we’ll go to work and get better.”

What’s Next for the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott? - Brendan Semon, NFLSpinZone

The Dallas Cowboys would be foolish not to sign Dak to a long-term deal, if fully healthy.

In regards to the two parties, both have to make difficult long-term decisions. For Dak Prescott moving forward, it is to be expected that he has one of two options at the end of this year’s campaign: He can either sign to another franchise tag with the Dallas Cowboys and remain with the team for another year to prove he deserves a massive deal, or he will walk in free agency and play for another team in the 2021 season.

For the Cowboys, on the other hand, they currently have no other option but to rely on former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to carry this team to the playoffs. Yes, even though Dallas lost their franchise quarterback, they are still expected to make the playoffs due to their unbelievable firepower on offense.

It seems as though Jerry Jones’ plan has worked out and he won’t have to make Dak Prescott one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL after all, and will still be able to win games with Andy Dalton.

Dallas Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones says injured QB Dak Prescott still ‘our future’ - Todd Archer, ESPN

The Cowboys front office comments on Dak Prescott.

“Absolutely not,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “He’s our future. He’s special. If anyone can overcome anything, it would be Dak. This is something that our doctors feel good that he’ll overcome and come back better than ever.”

Prescott is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season after playing on the $31.4 million franchise tag in 2020. The Cowboys can use the tag on him again next March, which would cost $37.7 million, or allow him to test the free-agent market.

The Cowboys and Prescott’s agent, Todd France, were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline, which meant Prescott had to play this season on the tag. The sides can resume negotiations after the season.

The Cowboys’ offer to Prescott over the summer included a $50 million signing bonus and around $110 million guaranteed, but the length of the deal was a sticking point. The Cowboys wanted a five-year deal, while Prescott was seeking four.

Dallas Cowboys Have Best NFC East Odds After Dak Prescott Injury, Andy Dalton Becomes QB - Anthony Riccobono, International Business Times

Andy Dalton and the defense coming together are the keys to success now.

Various sportsbooks give Dallas the best odds to win the division and return to the playoffs. The Philadelphia Eagles are considered to be the Cowboys’ only real threat.

FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Cowboys as -125 favorites to win the NFC East. The Eagles have +130 odds to repeat as division champions. The Washington Football Team is a +900 long shot, followed by the winless New York Giants at +3500.

The odds are a little closer at DraftKings Sportsbook, though Dallas (+100) is still favored over Philadelphia (+120).

The Cowboys moved into sole possession of first place Sunday when Prescott was carted off the field with a gruesome ankle injury, Andy Dalton took his place and led Dallas to a 37-34 victory over New York.

Dallas improved its record to 2-3. Philadelphia was beaten by the Pittsburgh Steelers, falling to second place with a 1-3-1 record.

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