Dak Prescott sidelined from Dallas Cowboys practice with ankle soreness

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was sidelined from Friday’s practice with ankle soreness, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.

The Cowboys told Machota that Prescott’s absence is “completely precautionary.” Dallas was already prepared to rest Prescott and its key offensive starters in Sunday’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Prescott experienced the ankle soreness following Thursday’s joint practice with the Rams.

In addition to Prescott, Nick Harris of Cowboys.com noted that team owner Jerry Jones, CEO Stephen Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy were absent from practice as well. That led to brief speculation that a contract extension announcement could be brewing. That obviously isn’t the case — at least not yet.

Prescott, 31, is currently in the middle of contract negotiations with the Cowboys as the two sides hope to come to terms on an extension. The Cowboys and Prescott were previously at the negotiating table in 2020 and ’21, eventually agreeing to a four-year, $160 million deal. Prescott’s next contract is expected to be north of $50 million annually, but nothing has been agreed to. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025 unless something gets done with Dallas. Prescott counts $55.445 million against the Cowboys’ salary cap this season.

Prescott is coming off a season in which he finished second in NFL MVP voting, tossing a league-leading 37 touchdowns and throwing for 4,516 yards. He led the Cowboys to a third consecutive 12-5 regular season and an NFC East title, but Dallas saw another promising season end in disappointment. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Cowboys, 48-32, in the NFC Wild Card Round.

Dak Prescott reacts to Jerry Jones’ comments on CeeDee Lamb contract situation

In addition to Prescott, the Cowboys are working on getting star wideout CeeDee Lamb signed to a lucrative extension. Lamb, who is staging a training camp holdout, is set to make $17.99 million this season on his fifth-year option. In 2023, he hauled in a league-leading 135 receptions to go along with a career-high 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. Other top wideouts across the league such as the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson and the Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown have gotten paid this offseason. It’s clear Lamb wants next.

Jerry Jones said Thursday he doesn’t feel a “sense of urgency” to get Lamb signed long-term.

“I don’t know,” Jones said. “I don’t have a sense of urgency about getting it done. Put any reason you want. I was at Nobu two days ago. Give that as the reason. Whatever you want to put out there.”

Prescott feels quite differently than Jones.

“I can tell you I got a sense of urgency for it to happen,” Prescott said.