Dak Prescott: Cowboys quarterback practicing, first full reps since July 28

Dak Prescott just took another significant step to positioning himself as the Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback for Week 1.

With the NFL season opener looming, Michael Gehlken, Cowboys reporter for the Dallas Morning News, reported the update.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott will participate in competitive throwing, including 7-on-7, today in practice. His first such reps since exiting on July 28 with a right latissimus strain.

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 25, 2021

Dallas fans have been waiting for this, and while there are still hurdles to ensure the franchise signal caller is fully healthy, this is a massive step in the right direction.

Prescott is a ‘caged lion’

The former Mississippi State star worked tirelessly to return from last year’s devastating ankle injury, coming off multiple surgeries in time for training camp.

Then, in a well-documented setback that left everyone associated with the Cowboys with a pit in their stomach, Prescott was sidelined after straining his shoulder just days into training camp.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott “is a caged lion,” Mike McCarthy said. “He’s a competitor.” Been pushing to get more involved in practice. Today, with throwing in offense vs. defense periods for the first time in four weeks, he will.

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 25, 2021

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy described Prescott as a “caged lion” when asked about the Cowboys’ dual-threat quarterback returning to full action. “He’s a competitor. Been pushing to get involved more in practice. Today, with throwing in offense vs. defense for the first time in four weeks, he will.”

Prescott been preparing through mental reps

Prescott last threw a pass in 11-on-11 drills on July 27 and then was sidelined because of the latissimus strain in his right shoulder. Despite the Cowboys quarterback missing seven practices, he has continued to go through footwork drills, conditioning work and mental repetitions.

The quarterback provided an example of what he has been working on, highlighted in a recent ESPN article. Whenever Cowboys backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert would take to the line, once Prescott heard the play called, Prescott would follow, mocking as if he was running the play.

“I check the front and then I check the back end, see the rotation,” Dak Prescott said. “Depending what the play is, if it’s a kill, make the kill or make the adjustments, and then we’re ready to go in my head. Then after that, from a view, I’m just trying to see the defense post-snap the best as I can and play the play as if I would. ‘Boom,’ I’ll say. ‘Throw it there.”

For now, all eyes are on Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys, just like Jerry Jones likes it. Jones can only hope his team’s leader moves forward in 2021 without anymore setbacks.