Tag: Prescott

Nov 10, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks off the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Cowboys put QB Dak Prescott on IR, elevate DB Josh Butler

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys officially placed quarterback Dak Prescott on injured reserve and elevated cornerback Josh Butler to the active roster ahead of Monday night’s game against the Houston Texans.

Prescott underwent season-ending surgery to repair a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon last week.

Cooper Rush makes his second straight start under center Monday when the Cowboys (3-6) host the Texans (6-4).

Butler, 27, has been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster in each of the past two games. The former USFL player made his NFL debut in Week 9 and has recorded one tackle while playing nine snaps on defense and 22 on special teams.

–Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) is set to start with quarterback Dak Prescott (4) likely to be placed on IR. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Long November: Cowboys QB Dak Prescott likely to land on IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is likely to be placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, which would rule him out for the month of November.

The Cowboys (3-5) ruled Prescott out for Week 10 against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) with backup Cooper Rush named the starter for Sunday’s matchup with their NFC East rival.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that Prescott would “likely” be placed on injured reserve, a transaction that requires him to miss the next four games by NFL rule. That’s a dire stretch for Dallas. The Cowboys host the Eagles, play the Houston Texans (6-3) in primetime, then play twice in five days. Before entertaining the Giants (2-7) on Thanksgiving, the Cowboys get their first look at former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s Commanders (7-2) on Nov. 24.

Prescott would be eligible to be added back to the active roster for the Dec. 9 “Monday Night Football” matchup with the Bengals (4-5).

With Dallas trailing the Falcons 27-13 near the end of the third quarter , Prescott appeared to grimace after a 10-yard pass to Jalen Brooks. He stayed in the game but was ruled out with 11:08 left in the fourth quarter. Prescott said he first felt the pain the play before the completion to Brooks, when he was getting up after a 5-yard scramble.

Rush, who replaced Prescott on Sunday, will be backed up by Trey Lance when the Cowboys entertain the Eagles.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Rush is the most respected backup quarterback he’s coached since Rich Gannon.

“(He) carries that type of credibility. He’s a great teammate. He’s someone that you can see the young guys lean on,” McCarthy said. “He’s wicked smart, instinctive. He does a great job when he runs the scout team. He just does everything the right way. Excellent pro. There will be plenty of confidence in him.”

Making his 36th straight start, Prescott was 18-of-24 passing for 133 yards and a touchdown, along with a season-high 30 rushing yards. The 31-year-old entered the day with 24 rushing yards this season.

Rush led Dallas’ comeback bid. He passed for 115 yards and a touchdown. Rush has played sparingly of late behind Prescott, but after the longtime starting QB broke his right thumb in the 2022 season opener, Rush went 4-1 as the starter.

Prescott also missed 11 games in 2020 with a right ankle injury and sat out one game the next season due to a strained right calf.

–Field Level Media

Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and quarterback Cooper Rush (10) and quarterback Trey Lance (19) talk during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys’ Cooper Rush remains QB2 ahead of Trey Lance

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cooper Rush will back up Dak Prescott, while Trey Lance will remain the third quarterback to start the season in Dallas, coach Mike McCarthy said Monday.

The Cowboys open the season on the road Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Rush, 30, is entering his seventh campaign with Dallas (2017-19, 2021-23). He is 5-1 as a starter, completing 60.6 percent of his passes in 26 total games for 1,619 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions.

Lance, 24, was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and was traded to the Cowboys before the 2023 season for a 2024 fourth-round draft pick. He did not take any snaps for Dallas last season.

Lance was 2-2 with the 49ers from 2021-22, completing 54.9 percent of his throws in eight total games for 797 yards with five TDs and three picks. He also rushed for 235 yards and one score.

Lance had a miserable showing in the Cowboys’ final preseason game, tossing five interceptions in a 26-19 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 24.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) and quarterback Dak Prescott (4) talk during the game against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys commit to Dak Prescott, ‘all in’ on youth movement

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys are committed to staying together in Dallas, but owner Jerry Jones warned the cost is likely a diminished roster around the quarterback in the future.

Prescott is entering the final season of a four-year, $160 million deal and cannot be given the franchise tag under terms of the agreement. None of that is bothering Jones, who said the partnership is certain to continue.

“We want Dak Prescott. That’s that. The improvement demonstrated (last season) that there’s more. We want Dak. We think there is room for growth,” Jones said Tuesday in a pre-draft press conference. “Dak, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, I wouldn’t even blink on that.”

Prescott finished second in NFL MVP voting in 2023. He said last week “real negotiations” with the Cowboys haven’t begun but he has a $55.445 million salary cap hit that could be reduced with a long-term extension.

The 30-year-old has only played for the Cowboys since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.

But Jones warned not to judge progress toward a new deal with Prescott by whether they are talking contract before the draft. There are other big fish — and large contracts — in the picture for the Cowboys with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb set to play this season on his fifth-year option and pass rusher Micah Parsons in the final year of his rookie deal with the fifth-year team option available to the front office in 2025.

“We’d like to see more leaves fall. We’d like to see more action,” Jones said of looming negotiations. “It’s called option quarterback. I’ve spent my life (playing) option quarterback. I want to see some more cards played.”

As for the supporting cast in 2024, Jones stood on his statement at the start of the offseason that the Cowboys are “all in,” despite being mostly passive observers during free agency.

“We’re all in with these young guys … We’re all in with this draft,” Jones said.

The Cowboys draft 24th in the first round and voiced confidence they would land an excellent player. In 2022, the Cowboys drafted Tyler Smith with the No. 24 pick and landed wide receiver Dez Bryant in that same spot in 2010.

–Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and linebacker Micah Parsons (11) during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge playing fields. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys VP Stephen Jones ‘holding money back’ to re-sign big-ticket stars

Posted on | by Field Level Media

All-in can be relative, or at least the meaning applies in different ways according to Cowboys senior vice president Stephen Jones.

From Jones’ front office seat, he still views the Cowboys as all-in for 2024 despite passive spending in free agency, Jones said in a radio interview with 105.3 FM The Fan on Tuesday.

“We spend max, max money year in and year out. All 32 can only spend the same amount of money over a five-year stretch,” Jones said. “When we’re all said and done, we max out our salary cap every year. We will have done that. What comes with having a good roster, which we do, we’re also looking towards signing our own guys.

“It doesn’t mean it happens overnight. But when you’re wanting to sign players like Dak (Prescott) and Micah (Parsons) and CeeDee (Lamb), then you have to hold money back if you want to have a realistic chance of signing those guys.”

Prescott is entering the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract. His deal could be the most pressing because of the paved exit the terms of the deal would provide the 30-year-old.

Lamb is an option for the franchise tag next spring after he plays the 2024 season on a fifth-year option. But after setting a franchise record for receptions in an All-Pro season, Lamb plans to skip voluntary workouts as the market value for wide receivers continues to climb.

Waiting might not help in the case of Parsons, either. He’s under contract for 2024 and the Cowboys hold a team option for his fifth season in 2025.

But the new rate for high-end pass rushers was reset in offseason deals for Brian Burns (five years, $87.5 million guaranteed, $141.5 million with the New York Giants) and Josh Allen (five years, $141.25 million, up to $88 million guaranteed).

Owner Jerry Jones said at the NFL owners meetings in March that Prescott’s contract would be discussed with the understanding that the size of deals for Super Bowl-capable quarterbacks will impact the team’s salary cap for the next “five years.”

Reading between the lines, the Cowboys are likely to ask Prescott to carry more weight with less proven talent around him.

As for Stephen Jones, he still sees the franchise as being all-in on 2024.

“Everybody has their own definition of what that means, but I’ve never not known us to be all-in, nor have I known anyone we compete against not to be all-in,” he said.

–Field Level Media

Aug 29, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott , owner Jerry Jones and receiver Amari Cooper talk prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Cowboys restructure QB Dak Prescott deal, create $4M cap space

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott restructured his contract to lower his nearly $60 million salary cap figure for 2024 and create $4 million for Dallas under the cap, according to multiple reports.

Prescott is entering the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract. The 30-year-old agreed to add void years to his contract to allow the Cowboys to convert his $5 million roster bonus to a signing bonus, ESPN reported, which removes $4 million from the team’s 2024 cap.

At $55.45 million, Prescott’s cap figure remains the second-highest in the NFL for 2024 behind Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson ($63.97 million).

A long-term contract extension is expected for Prescott and would lower his cap figure immensely and might be necessary with free agency looming for pass rusher Micah Parsons and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, among others on the Dallas roster.

Prescott on Monday also introduced his baby daughter to fans with photos posted to social media. Prescott and his girlfriend, Sarah Jane Ramos, shared five pictures of the newborn nicknamed MJ — Margaret Rose Jane Prescott.

“Being your parents is the biggest blessing life has to offer and we are so fortunate that you are ours! Welcome into this world, baby girl, you will always be loved and protected! We are so IN LOVE with you, Love, Mom & Dad,” the post reads.

–Field Level Media

Jul 31, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and chief operating officer Stephen Jones (left) during training camp at the Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge playing fields. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones says he understands fans frustration

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Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged that the team’s front office is “very aware” of the club’s frustrated fan base after little splash was made during free agency.

Sure, the Cowboys added veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks on a one-year agreement on Wednesday, however the fans expected more — especially after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said earlier this offseason that he planned to go “all in.”

And “all in” didn’t include signing two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry, who told Mad Dog Sports Radio that the Cowboys didn’t even reach out to him. That comes on the heels of seeing Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia) and Aaron Jones (Minnesota) — who lives in Dallas during the offseason — land with other teams while the Cowboys saw fellow running back Tony Pollard join the Tennessee Titans.

“Everybody certainly has that right (to be frustrated),” Stephen Jones said Thursday, via The Athletic. “I know where the frustration is, it’s the fact that we haven’t had success in the playoffs to their satisfaction. Until we do that, then the criticism is certainly something that’s going to be there. We know that’s going to be there, but we’re going to stick with what we believe will ultimately get us a championship here for our fans. We don’t define ‘all in’ by what you spend in free agency. It’s keeping the core (together).”

Dallas has little cap space to work with. The Cowboys also have quarterback Dak Prescott seeking a contract extension and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons in line for large deals.

“It’s not frustrating because it means we’ve done a good job with the draft,” Stephen Jones said when asked about seeing big-name free agents land elsewhere. “That’s just a sign, in my mind, that our organization, Will (McClay) and the scouting department, the coaches, we’ve done our job in terms of developing players. It’s a great thing when you have Micah and CeeDee and the Dak (contract) challenge ahead of us, in terms of getting them under the cap. We’re certainly all in on getting that done.

“When you want to keep your players that you’ve developed and worked so hard to get … then you’re not going to be able to go out and chase those (high-dollar free agent) guys. … The way I look at things, I’ve always said it, player acquisition is 365 days a year. It’s not just the first or second or third day of free agency.”

Prescott, 30, is entering his ninth season and the final campaign of a four-year, $160 million contract he signed in 2021. Prescott’s salary-cap figure in 2024 is $59.5 million and the Cowboys reportedly have held preliminary discussions regarding a long-term extension.

Nine quarterbacks have signed contracts with higher total values since Prescott and the Cowboys completed their existing agreement.

Lamb, 24, heads into the 2024 season on the last season of his contract thanks to a fifth-year option.

However, after a season in which he set franchise records for receptions (135) and receiving yards (1,749), Lamb is expected to seek a significant increase from his $17.9 million fifth-year salary. That would bring him more in line with the annual salaries of other wide receivers in the league like Miami’s Tyreek Hill ($30 million) and Las Vegas’ Davante Adams ($28 million).

Parsons, 24, also has the numbers to earn a raise, having earned Pro Bowl team and All-Pro nods in each of his first three seasons. Selected by the Cowboys with the 12th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons has one year left on his rookie deal, with this offseason being the first opportunity to extend his deal.

Parsons had 14.0 sacks to lead the Cowboys in 2023. He has a career total of 40.5 sacks in 50 games, all starts.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks off the field after losing in the 2024 NFC wild card game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott accused of sexual assault after filing extortion suit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is being investigated for an alleged sexual assault in 2017 related to the extortion lawsuit he filed on Monday that claims the woman demanded money to remain quiet about the allegation.

The woman filed a criminal complaint Tuesday and Dallas police are investigating her claim that Prescott sexually assaulted her in the back of an SUV in the parking lot of a strip club, XTC Cabaret, on Feb. 2, 2017. Attorneys representing the accuser claim Prescott’s representatives acknowledge they were together on the night of the alleged incident.

Prescott’s lawsuit, which was filed in Collin County, lists the female accuser and her attorneys. Prescott claims they demanded $100 million for her silence in a letter he received in January.

The Dallas Police Department is investigating claims of sexual assault, and authorities in Prosper, Texas, began an extortion investigation one day before the alleged victim reported the alleged sexual assault.

“Mr. Prescott, a new father to a baby girl, has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault,” attorney Levi McCathern, who is representing Prescott, said in a statement to ESPN. “He fervently believes that all perpetrators of such crimes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. To be clear, Mr. Prescott has never engaged in any nonconsensual sexual conduct with anyone. Lies hurt. Especially malicious lies. We will not allow the defendant and her legal team to profit from this attempt to extort millions from Mr. Prescott.”

Prescott, 30, was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State.

He’s now entering his ninth season and the final season of a four-year, $160 million contract he signed in 2021. Prescott’s salary-cap figure in 2024 is $59.5 million and the Cowboys reportedly have held preliminary discussions regarding a long-term extension.

Nine quarterbacks have signed contracts with higher total values since Prescott and the Cowboys completed their existing agreement.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) walks off the field after win against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Hardly Irrelevant: Brock Purdy new MVP favorite

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Could Brock Purdy go from Mr. Irrelevant to NFL Most Valuable Player in less than two years?

San Francisco’s quarterback is the +300 MVP favorite at DraftKings after leading the 49ers to a 42-19 victory at Philadelphia on Sunday. Not only did it serve notice that San Francisco might be the NFC’s most dominant team, but Purdy outplayed previous MVP favorite Jalen Hurts in his own building.

Hurts, who was the +250 favorite at the book just two weeks ago, dropped to +350. That’s equal to Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, who is on his own rapid rise after opening the Week 13 slate with his sixth consecutive multiple-touchdown game in a comeback win over Seattle on Thursday night.

The trio are the +350 co-favorites at BetMGM. There is then a significant gap to two previous MVPs — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson at +600 and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes at +750, followed by Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa at +800.

Jackson and Mahomes are being offered at +900 at DraftKings after being +350 and +400, respectively, just two weeks ago. Tagovailoa has shorter odds than both at the book, where he is +700.

Jackson’s Ravens are coming off their bye week and are tied with Tagovailoa’s Dolphins atop the AFC at 9-3. He will have plenty of opportunity to state his case down the stretch with a Week 15 game at Jacksonville followed by a cross-country trip to battle Purdy in San Francisco ahead of a Week 17 home game against Tagovailoa and Miami that could decide home-field advantage in the AFC.

Mahomes and the Chiefs have fallen a game off the pace following their loss at Green Bay on Sunday night — Kansas City’s third loss in its past five games. Mahomes, the reigning MVP, does not have any remaining games against other MVP candidates, although the Chiefs also play only one more team that currently has a winning record.

Meanwhile, Purdy has plenty of opportunity to continue to shine on the national stage.

San Francisco plays host to Seattle on Sunday, followed by a game at Arizona before the Week 16 tilt against Baltimore on “Monday Night Football.” The 49ers close out the regular season with a trip to reeling Washington and a home game against the Los Angeles Rams.

After a slow first quarter, Purdy led San Francisco to touchdown drives on six consecutive possessions at Philadelphia. He finished the game with 314 passing yards and four touchdowns. Critics will point out that his receivers racked up 212 yards after the catch and that 48.5 percent of Purdy’s passing yards this season have been the result of YAC.

However, Purdy has already outplayed Hurst and Prescott in head-to-head blowouts by San Francisco, and he’ll have an opportunity for a third signature win against Jackson and the Ravens.

Purdy leads the NFL in completion percentage and quarterback rating.

The 49ers (9-3) are now second in the NFC behind the Eagles (10-2), whose next two games are at the Cowboys (9-3) and Seahawks (6-6). How the NFC playoff picture looks after the next several weeks could have a major factor in how the MVP race shakes out.

–Field Level Media

Aug 19, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks to the locker room following a 22-14 Seattle victory at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys: Lance trade has no bearing on Prescott contract talks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the acquisition of quarterback Trey Lance was not influenced in any way by the lack of contract negotiations with current QB1 Dak Prescott.

Jones made the comments before the Cowboys’ final preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. The Cowboys acquired Lance from the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.

“Didn’t cross my mind, period, about an impact here regarding Dak,” Jones told reporters. “I know that Dak wants to do anything we can do to improve this team and we’re going to do it. The facts are that the decision to bring in as high a quality of talent as we could, that’s involving young talent … that’s something that we’ve been trying to do, just never the opportunity seems to be there.”

Further, Jones said he did not give a heads up to Prescott or Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy about the trade.

The Cowboys signed Prescott to a four-year, $160 million extension in March 2021 and he’ll carry a $59.45 million cap hit in 2024. The Cowboys would like to extend Prescott but there have been no substantive talks, ESPN reported.

Jones said the Cowboys have liked Lance since the 2021 draft, when the Niners moved up from No. 12 to select Lance No. 3 overall.

“And so we felt good about him with the evaluation we had for him at the draft. We felt good about what we’ve seen, tape that he’s had since he’s been in the NFL,” Jones said.

The Cowboys will carry three QBs on their 53-man roster, with Cooper Rush also locked in.

Lance was lined up to be San Francisco’s starter in 2022 before fracturing his right ankle in the second game of the season. The injury, which included ligament damage, required two surgeries — the second to remove hardware from the first that was causing irritation in the ankle.

Lance has appeared in just eight games (four starts) over his first two seasons, completing 56 of 102 passes for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

–Field Level Media