Dak Prescott Broke His Thumb, Needs Surgery

September 12, 2022, by Brett Taylor Chicago Bears

It took one week for things to shake up, potentially dramatically, in the NFC East. And for Cowboys fans to start screaming about the season being over.

I’m not sure that’ll wind up being true or not, but you can’t argue that this isn’t a major blow to Dallas: quarterback Dak Prescott jacked up his hand late in the loss against the Buccaneers, and he’s going to need surgery.

Jerry says Dak will be out “several weeks” due to injury above thumb back behind joint. A “tremendously disappointing” 19-3 loss to Buccaneers. “Real disappointed before Dak’s injury,” Jerry says, “and certainly disappointed after it.”
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) September 12, 2022

Here’s how Dak Prescott injured his hand pic.twitter.com/UVhn4nMkUk
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 12, 2022

Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy reacted to learning of the injury live, and I’d say it sums things up well:

Mike McCarthy's reaction when he found out the Dak Prescott news on the field: pic.twitter.com/zibmFfYn1t
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 12, 2022

The optimistic case for Prescott’s return would have him back as soon as the Cowboys’ October 30th matchup against the Chicago Bears, or if the Cowboys want to give him the bye to rest another week, it’d be two weeks later against the Green Bay Packers. Some NFC North implications either way.

He will likely be placed on injured reserve but will be eligible to return later in the year. If he follows the 6-8 week timeframe, he could return as soon as Oct. 30 vs. Chicago or Nov. 13 at Green Bay following the bye.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 12, 2022

Meanwhile, to the extent the Cowboys were going to be a Wild Card team rather than taking the NFC East, I monitor the significant injuries pretty close early in the season. Sure, the Bears are UNLIKELY to be in a playoff position later this year, but you never know.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys figure to replace Prescott with back-up Cooper Rush for the time being, but it’s possible they would expand their search if they didn’t feel he could float them well enough for the next two months. Not that I see them going out and immediately trading for Jimmy Garoppolo.

Filed to: Chicago Bears