Dak Prescott injury update: Cowboys QB reveals targeted return date after season-ending hamstring surgery

Dallas Cowboys (5-7) quarterback Dak Prescott, currently recovering from season-ending hamstring surgery last month, has identified a targeted return date.

Prescott, still on crutches, told CBS Sports Tuesday that he plans to be back by the start of OTA’s with no restrictions.

“My plan is to start OTAs and start the offseason no restrictions, full go,” Prescott said. That’s part in getting this jump on this surgery that we thought was inevitable anyways. At that point, just doing everything I can to be the best quarterback and leader of this team to help this team come in next year with the best outfit that we can.”

Prescott, 31, sustained the injury in the third quarter of the 27-21 Week 9 road defeat to the Atlanta Falcons (6-6). Dallas placed Prescott on injured reserve, thus ending his season. Prescott had an up-and-down year after signing a lucrative contract extension ahead of the season, which made him the NFL’s highest-paid player. He completed 64.7% of his passes – the second-worst rate of his career – for 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Dak Prescott advocates for Mike McCarthy to return as Cowboys HC in 2025

He described 2024 as “definitely one of the toughest” years of his career.

“It’s been a roller coaster, all the highs and then just throwing a couple of lows in there,” Prescott said. “For me, it’s about counting my blessings and not the trials that I’m going through and facing … They’re all worth it when you come home, and you see Margaret Jane [Prescott’s daughter] and Sarah Jane [Prescott’s fiancée], and you get to be home. You forget about all that and take that perspective in and get to be a father and a fiancé for a second. … It’s about for me about trying to just stay level and not ride quite the highs and the lows as much.”

As for who will be coaching Prescott and the Cowboys in 2025, that’s to be decided after the season. Head coach Mike McCarthy is in the final year of a five-year contract he signed with the organization ahead of the 2020 season. He has led the Cowboys to three playoff appearances and two NFC East division titles. Dallas, however, has just one postseason victory to show for it. A five-game losing streak following a 3-2 start to the season didn’t seem to help McCarthy’s cause, though Dallas has responded with two consecutive wins.

Prescott said he “wholeheartedly” believes in McCarthy, adding that he “definitely deserves another contract.”

“I believe in him wholeheartedly,” Prescott told Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports. “I don’t want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously. But I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it.

“But I wholeheartedly believe in him.”