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The Dallas Cowboys are just about to wrap up their time in Oxnard. For the most part, there have been a lot of successful and promising things coming out of camp. The defense seems somewhat renewed, the offensive line is back from injury, and a sense of optimism is brewing for the team.
There has been one dark cloud, though, and that is the injury to quarterback Dak Prescott. Coming into camp, everyone was worried about his ankle but he didn’t have any problem with that. It was when he developed a shoulder strain that things got a little gloomy. Fortunately, it now appears that Prescott is on the mend.
Head coach Mike McCarthy informed us on Saturday that Prescott is actually doing some light throwing.
Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said quarterback Dak Prescott has done some “light throwing” for the first time since leaving practice July 28 with a latissimus strain in his right shoulder.
McCarthy followed up with a reference to “light objects,” which could mean it was not a regulation football, and did not have a firm timetable as to when Prescott will return fully to practice.
“We’ll see how his progression goes,” McCarthy said. “He’s doing some things as far as throwing and everything is on a rep count, so ...”
“Once again, this is more us than him. This is us being cautious, so I feel really good about where he is.”
Here is the video proof.
Dak “throwing.” pic.twitter.com/lvE4Ov4vtu
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) August 7, 2021
If the Cowboys are letting Prescott do some light throwing, regardless of what he is throwing, it has to mean that is he is getting very close to retuning to a normal routine. They wouldn’t risk him inflaming it if that wasn’t the case, and it will be just a matter of time before he returns to a normal throwing routine.
This is how Stephen Jones termed the recovery.
Stephen Jones on Dak Prescott (shoulder strain) via Cowboys’ stream: “Got an A ++ report today from the trainer…he is doing outstanding. No concerns on him being ready to go this year.”
— Brianna Dix (@DixBrianna) August 7, 2021
Obviously the team would like to get him some work in before the opening of the season, but it’s very unlikely that will be this week. With Tuesday’s practice being reduced to a walk-thru, the Cowboys are only going to have one real practice left between now and when they take on Arizona. It’s hard to imagine the team trying to shoehorn Prescott’s recovery into that schedule.
More likely, once they get back to The Star in Frisco, they should start easing Prescott back in and give him some reps in either the third or fourth preseason game. Previous to the injury they had stated that he was going to play in preseason, and that’s probably still the case. Knowing Prescott, he will want to get some live reps in before the season to both test his ankle and kick off some rust. We already know that he is impatient to return.
“He’s champing at the bit, so we’re obviously going to be excited when he gets back out there,” right guard Zack Martin said. “But we know he’s got to take the time to get right and get 100 percent ready.”
Prescott is so ready. he’s even sneaking in a partial throw at practice.
Dak Prescott kind of throwing a pass in practice. More than he had done since July 28. pic.twitter.com/yEzmN1BwY3
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 7, 2021
The report of Prescott doing some light throwing is very encouraging. It shouldn't be long before QB1 is back.