ATLANTA – Dak Prescott suffered a double setback on Sunday.
Not only did the Dallas Cowboys fall to a third consecutive loss, but the star quarterback suffered a right hamstring injury that knocked him out of the game in the second half.
Prescott was hurt during a scramble late in the third quarter – he wasn’t sure if the injury occurred as he ran or was inflicted during the tackle – and was replaced by Cooper Rush in the fourth quarter of the 27-21 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons.
He stayed in the game for at least two plays after suffering the injury and was seen wincing in pain as he threw a 10-yard completion to Jalen Brooks on his next-to-last snap of the game. Prescott noticed the injury when he rose to the turf after the scramble, sensing a pain that he’d never felt before. He wanted to remain in the game but was ruled out after being examined by the Cowboys athletic training staff.
“I asked, ‘Could I make it worse?’ ”Prescott said. “They said I wouldn’t be able to protect myself.”
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Prescott will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury but is hopeful that it won’t jeopardize this status for next Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium.
“I’ll say that I’ll be out there next week,” said Prescott, who completed 18 of 24 passes on Sunday for 133 yards, with a touchdown and zero interceptions.
“Hopefully, I can say I heal fast, I progress fast on injuries and things. I’m thankful for that. We’ve got to get a picture of it. I guess we’ll see how bad it is. It will take a lot for me not to be out there.”
In leaving the postgame news conference, Prescott’s injury was barely noticeable as he stepped down from the stage and walked back to the locker room. He acknowledged that a better read on his condition will come during the week, which will include the extent to which he can participate in practice.
The quarterback’s mobility behind a shaky offensive line is crucial. On Sunday, he was sacked three times and scrambled three times for 30 yards, including an 18-yard scamper.
Leaving the game was “very, very difficult,” Prescott said.
“I know how much we needed this one,” he said. “I just wanted to get out there and compete.”
This story has been updated with new information.