Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is entering a crucial season in 2024. The soon-to-be 31-year-old is playing in a contract year and — barring a preseason extension — will be playing for his next deal throughout the campaign.
Prescott is also tasked with leading Dallas on a deep playoff run, something he hasn't yet been able to do during his career. While some Cowboys fans are growing frustrated with the team, many still understand Prescott represents their best chance to win a title.
That's why so many of them were concerned when pictures of Prescott wearing a walking boot circulated during the 2024 offseason.
Prescott had no issues at Cowboys offseason workouts, but the images showed him wearing a boot on his right foot. Others appeared to show swelling in that foot and ankle, which raised concerns he might not be at 100 percent when training camp rolls around.
While concerns about the 2023 MVP runner-up were warranted, Prescott did his best to squash them at a recent media availability.
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Dak Prescott injury update
Prescott was asked by reporters why he was wearing a walking boot. He provided a candid answer and said his malady is "absolutely nothing."
"Honestly, I'm getting older," Prescott said. "It's the same ankle that I snapped and had a nasty surgery on four years ago. A couple of hard days of training, you know, you get a little bit sore, you're going on a fishing trip and you wanna protect it and make sure things don't get worse."
"I'm getting older," Prescott added. "I have to take care of my body; I have to be smart; and if I can take precautions and lessen something by putting on the boot, I'm gonna do it."
Dak Prescott gives an update on why he was recently wearing a walking boot. He says there’s “absolutely nothing” wrong with his ankle pic.twitter.com/wNWleQSZ8Q
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 9, 2024
Prescott's strategy is sensible, as he suffered a major injury in his right leg during the 2020 NFL season. In Week 5 of that campaign, he was tackled while scrambling for yardage and had a Giants defender roll on his right ankle. He suffered a compound fracture that knocked him out for the rest of the season.
The injury was gruesome, as Prescott's ankle bent in the wrong direction during the tackle. He had to be carted off the field in an air cast.
Prescott managed to return from the injury in 2021 and showed minimal ill effects from it. He may be feeling a tinge of pain now, but so long as he can manage it, he should be able to competently lead the Cowboys for another season.
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Dak Prescott injury history
Prescott made 72 consecutive starts to begin his NFL career before being sidelined because of his compound ankle fracture. He missed 11 games during the 2020 season but has missed just six games in three seasons since.
Here's what to know about Prescott's injury history from his NFL career, according to Draft Sharks:
| Year | Date | Injury | Games missed |
| 2019 | Dec. 15 | Right shoulder | 0 |
| 2020 | Oct. 11 | Right ankle fracture/dislocation | 11 |
| 2021 | July 28 | Right shoulder strain | 0 |
| 2021 | Oct. 17 | Right calf strain | 0 |
| 2022 | Sept. 11 | Right thumb fracture | 5 |
| 2024 | July 1 | Right foot sprain | 0 |
Prescott will be hoping his foot problem doesn't turn into anything worse, but it at least appears he's taking every precaution to make sure he can be healthy when training camp begins.