Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is dealing with a partial avulsion of his right hamstring, which means part of the tendon has separated from the bone.
Prescott has not yet been placed on injured reserve (IR), which would require him to miss a minimum of four games.
If he were put on IR this week, the soonest he could return would be December 9 in a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Prescott was injured in Sunday’s loss against the Atlanta Falcons after a 5-yard run in the third quarter.
Cameras later captured him wincing as he threw a 10-yard pass to Jalen Brooks.
After the game, Prescott described the sensation as unfamiliar.
He said: “I felt it when I was getting up from the run. I can’t even say that I felt it running.
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“The tackle, maybe something on the tackle. Yeah, I don’t know. But when I was standing up, I felt something, actually.
“Didn’t think it was much. You get tired. It’s a physical game. A lot of times you feel different things and they kind of go away.”
Since drafting Prescott in 2016, the Cowboys have performed strongly with him, going 76-46 in his starts, compared to 9-8 with other quarterbacks.
The team averages 26.7 points per game and 251.4 passing yards per game with Prescott, compared to 21.1 points and 206.7 yards with other quarterbacks.
With Prescott out, Cooper Rush will start at quarterback. Rush has experience stepping in for Prescott, with a 5-1 record, including a 4-1 stint in 2022 when Prescott missed time due to a thumb injury.
“Cooper’s been great in getting Dak ready to play, and now Dak, there’ll be some role reversal there,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said.
“[Rush’s] temperament is excellent. I would say he’s as even-keeled as an individual, especially a quarterback, that I’ve had the opportunity to work with. Cerebral. Smart. He gives you the flexibility to continue to play.
“I think that’s what you want in all your quarterbacks. You don’t want to get to a spot where you have to change a bunch of things offensively because who’s behind center.”
