FRISCO, Texas — For Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, it has to be the shoes.
Prescott was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice because of a new pair of cleats that left his surgically repaired right ankle feeling “uncomfortable.”
“I promise you I’m great,” Prescott said. “Just be very, very careful. Switching shoes today probably wasn’t the best idea. We’re good to go. Promise.”
The Cowboys have a lighter practice on Friday, “but come Saturday, yes, we will roll,” he said. Dallas’ season kicks off Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.
Prescott was on the field Thursday for a portion of practice that was open to the media before heading to the locker room. He said he didn’t twist the ankle in practice; he broke into a new pair of Jordan 11s after wearing Jordan 1s all summer to training camp. Last season, he wore the Jordan 11s for competitions, but he said he would go back to the Jordan 1s.
Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in game five of the 2020 season, but had no problem with it last year when he set the team record for touchdown passes (37) in a season. Last year he missed one game due to a calf strain.
Prescott’s health during last year’s season opener against the Buccaneers was a much bigger problem, as he missed most of the camp as he recovered from a right-wing latissimus strain. He said at camp this summer that this is the best he’s ever felt.
“That’s this league, and if you don’t report hangnail you will be suspended or fined, excuse me,” Prescott said. “But no, I feel great. I still feel the best I’ve felt in a very, very long time. Not even comparable to where I was in this race last year. Honestly, just excited and ready for Sunday to come here.”
Prescott also initially downplayed the seriousness of the latissimus strain last year.
“That was a baseball deal. I wasn’t sure,” Prescott said. “They’re not even comparable. When I heard about the shoulder (he had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in February), of course I had to take back what I said. This isn’t even in, no, not even comparing.”
Two years away from the ankle injury, Prescott isn’t going through the same rigorous pre-training warmup he went through all of last season.
In last year’s opener vs. Tampa Bay Prescott threw for 403 yards as he completed 42 of 58 passes with three touchdowns and an interception in a 31-29 loss. He said this minor setback will not limit him on Sunday.
‘Not at all. You can’t,” Prescott said. ‘Not at all. No chance.’
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