Expectations were high for the Dallas Cowboys entering the 2022 season. Quarterback Dak Prescott said that he felt better than he had “in a long, long time,” but all that changed in the fourth quarter of the season opener, which ended in a disappointing 19-3 loss to the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Prescott was forced off the field after his throwing hand appeared to be forcefully struck on two successive passing plays. The Cowboys later confirmed that Prescott suffered a fracture to his thumb on his throwing hand that will require surgery. Prescott is expected to miss six to eight weeks as he recovers from the injury.
“I’m quickly reminded of how I felt when Tony Romo went down against Seattle,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said to 105.3 The Fan. “And then I’m reminded of how I felt two and a half months later, three months later, when you had to make a decision whether [Dak] or Tony started against Green Bay in the playoffs.”
The injury is reportedly a Bennett fracture, a two-part break of the base of the thumb typically caused by blunt force impact. Surgical repair of this type of fracture typically requires the placement of metal pins. Outcomes are generally good when surgically repaired, though the National Center for Biotechnology Information acknowledges that significant rehabilitation is necessary once the surgery has successfully been completed.
The injury happened as the Tampa Bay defensive line began to make inroads against a stout offensive protection plan led by rookie Tyler Smith and Matthew Farniok, both playing in relief of injuries to the regular starters Tyron Smith and Connor McGovern, who went down on the first drive of the game.
Tampa Bay’s Shaq Barrett beat the protection on consecutive passing plays, both times colliding with Prescott’s hand as the quarterback released the ball. Prescott’s hand bounced off Barrett’s helmet before the quarterback retreated to the sideline and informed the training staff that he could not grip the ball.
Training staff conducted an initial x-ray exam on-site and determined that Prescott had fractured the thumb on his throwing hand.
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush will get the start while Prescott recovers. Rush has been with the Cowboys since 2017, when he signed as an undrafted free agent rookie. Rush spent several months with the New York Giants in 2020 before re-signing with the Cowboys in the fall.
Rush has started only one game in his career, a 20-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Halloween, 2021. That game accounts for 30 of his 31 career completions up to the 2022 season. Jones said Sunday that the Cowboys would need to be “outstanding” to get Rush ready for the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
“Injuries happen; you can’t necessarily control it,” Prescott told the press following the game. “It’s just unfortunate, obviously. I’m going to miss some time, not be there for my team, and that is what hurts more than anything.”
Prescott has dealt with a number of injuries in recent seasons, starting with the fractured ankle he suffered in Week 5 of the 2020 season. Prescott entered 2021 feeling good about the ankle but suffered a shoulder strain in the preseason. Prescott suffered a calf injury in Week 6 on the final play against New England that set up Rush’s only career start in Week 8.
The Dallas Cowboys will play against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 18. Prescott said he will do his best to help Rush prepare for his second career start as the team looks to rebound from a disappointing opening week performance.
