Your Wednesday morning news around the Dallas Cowboys.
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott ready to ‘amp it up’ as injury recovery moves in positive direction – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
It sounds like the Dallas Cowboys quarterback is progressing well in his rehab.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said his recovery from a torn hamstring is moving in a positive direction.
“Good, my health is good,” Prescott said Tuesday at a news conference promoting the Children’s Cancer Fund’s fashion show where he’s a co-chair with Hall of Famer Troy Aikman. “Doing a lot more, getting there 12 weeks or so out of surgery now, so I’m really looking to amp it up here recently. I got all my confidence and we’ll be fine.”
Prescott played in just eight games in the 2024 season before suffering a torn hamstring Nov. 3 against Atlanta.Prescott completed 64.78% of his passes for 1,978 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He had a career-low 86.0 quarterback rating.
Prescott noted he’s excited to have new coach Brian Schottenheimer take over and bring an old-school approach to things, particularly when it comes to running the ball.
Schottenheimer wants to use more play-action passing, something Prescott believes will help the offense.
“He’s not going to take anything about this game lightly,” Prescott said. “He enjoys the work in it, old-fashioned, looking forwards to the grind and to some of the things we’re going to do.”
Dak Prescott says Cowboys ‘very close’ to winning Super Bowl – Todd Archer, ESPN.com
Dak Prescott remains optimistic about the team’s chance to compete with Philadelphia.
“I feel like we’ve competed with the Eagles and beat them for the most part when we’ve played them,” Prescott said Tuesday after announcing the models for this year’s Children’s Cancer Fund gala that will be held April 11. “I don’t want to say, ‘Check the record,’ when the other guy is holding the trophy, right? So credit to them. They’ve earned it, and they deserve it by all means. But, yeah, [we’re] very close.”
When asked how far the Cowboys are from doing what their NFC East rivals have done, Prescott also mentioned the Washington Commanders, who lost to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
“Especially even watching the NFC championship and those two teams — teams that we battle against each and every year a couple of times. As I said, [I] feel confident that we’ve gotten the better part each and every time. But just seeing such a dominating fashion [in Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs], credit to them. It’s our turn and it’s on us.”
The Cowboys have not played in a Super Bowl — or been to a conference title game — in 29 seasons. They are coming off a 7-10 finish, as Prescott played just eight games before having his season end because of a partial avulsion of his right hamstring.
In 2025, Prescott will play for his third different head coach — Brian Schottenheimer — in 10 seasons. Jason Garrett was his coach from 2016 to 2019, followed by Mike McCarthy from 2020 to 2024.
Cowboys legend Dez Bryant criticizes franchise: ‘They need to get out of their comfort zone’ – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Dez Bryant isn’t the only former player to recently speak out about the Cowboys inability to reach the Super Bowl.
Speaking on Media Row for Super Bowl LIX last week, he continued to question the organization following the hire of Brian Schottenheimer as head coach, a move he described as safe and comfortable. He said he would’ve gone with another hire, such as former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders or Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
“I would’ve gone Ben Johnson, I like him,” Bryant said. “I would’ve even gone Prime (Deion Sanders). But with Jerry [Jones], there’s no way they would’ve gone after somebody like Prime, too big of a personality. But Ben Johnson, if anything. Kliff, I would’ve given him anything he wanted.”
“It feels like everybody is in a comfort zone, and that’s not what we need. We got the biggest franchise in sports, and we’re acting like we’re this poverty franchise for whatever reason.”
While Jones insisted on the red carpet last Thursday night that the Cowboys are “not building for the future” and are trying to win in the now, Bryant thinks they are in the midst of turning their roster over.
“I think they’re rebuilding, and it sucks,” he said. “It sucks for guys like Micah, CeeDee. That’s just my opinion…I don’t like the energy, I don’t like what’s going on in the Cowboys organization. We want to win. I’m speaking on behalf of the fans, what’s going on?”
Dallas Cowboys 7-round mock draft: Cowboys add playmakers to the offense – Josh Liskiewitz, PFF.com
With the 2024 season officially over, it’s time to turn towards the NFL draft.
Round 1, Pick 12: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
Over the past two seasons at Missouri, Burden established himself as one of the most explosive playmakers in the country. He racked up 1,186 yards after the catch, recorded 50 explosive plays (15-plus yards) and hauled in 19 of his 35 contested targets.
Round 2, Pick 46: RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
One of the true breakout stars of the 2024 college season, Skattebo possesses a level of power and toughness that Dallas’ backfield currently lacks. Last season, he was a nightmare to tackle, breaking 104 tackles and gaining 1,214 of his 1,716 rushing yards after initial contact.
Round 3, Pick 76: Edge Quandarrius Robinson, Alabama
Robinson was highly productive in his nine games of action in 2024, generating 20 total pressures on just 109 pass-rush snaps while posting an impressive 23.8% win rate.
Round 5, Pick 150: RB Jo’quavioius Marks, USC
The lightning to Skattebo’s thunder, Marks would add a dynamic receiving element to the Cowboys’ backfield. In 2024, he recorded an eye-popping 423 yards after the catch — an incredible feat considering he recorded just 321 total receiving yards.
