The Dallas Cowboys’ season could go from bad to worse after a week one loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On top of the loss, the Cowboys will now be without their quarterback Dak Prescott for “several weeks”. It is currently unknown just how much time Prescott will miss this season, however, it is known that he suffered a hand injury against the Buccaneers that will require surgery.
Prescott suffered a fracture in his hand that was described as a “clean break”. It is assumed that the injury was sustained on one of the two times Prescott banged his hand on players’ helmets during the game. To make matters worse, the fracture happened in his throwing hand. This will be a major setback for Prescott and the Cowboys as he was the leader of the offense.
How Will the Cowboys Fair Without Dak Prescott
As previously mentioned, this injury could be the beginning of the end of the Cowboys this season. Prescott is a player that can not be easily replaced. Currently, Dallas has Cooper Rush as their second-string quarterback, however, look for them to be active in free agency or the trade market to try to find a replacement for their next game on Sunday, September 18th against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Cowboys were coming into the season looking to be very reliant on their passing game. With Ekeziel Elliott beginning to decline and Tony Pollard still needing to take a step before he is a starting level back, Prescott was essential for the Cowboys to be a top offense in the NFL. Without him, Elliott and Pollard must take a big step up and carry the offense until Prescott can return.
The Cowboys have a rather difficult schedule in the upcoming weeks and will have to fight for every game they can to remain in playoff contention until Dak can return. With Dallas’s young defense proving to be a very talented unit, they will have to also take a big step up and keep opposing offenses off of the board. There are a handful of games on their schedule that even without their starter on the field, the Cowboys should be able to win, however, with the NFC East being competitive this year, it will be an uphill battle for the Cowboys without Dak.
Can the Cowboys Still Make the Playoffs?
Coming into the season, many believed that the Cowboys would be able to once again win the NFC East division. The Eagles were set to give them a run for their money for the division this year, however, with Prescott sidelined for a considerable amount of time, it appears to be a one-man race. As a result of this, Dallas will likely be fighting for a Wild Card spot if they hope to make the playoffs this season.
Depending on who the Cowboys can find to replace Dak, they may be able to still keep their heads above water until he is able to take the field again. Along with this, Elliott and Pollard are more than capable of keeping the offense moving without Dak. While it will be very difficult to win their division this season, there is a chance that the Cowboys can still make a push for the playoffs even with Prescott being sidelined for several weeks.
