Is Dak Prescott Healthy or Injured? Will Prescott Play in Week 5?

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s 2022 season could not have gotten off to a worse start in a Week 1 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The usual trustworthy QB for both the Cowboys and fantasy managers lead the team to just three total points before suffering a fractured thumb in the second half. He has missed the last three games with the injury after undergoing surgery.

With the injury being to the QB’s throwing hand, his recovery period cannot be rushed. Having won three straight with backup Cooper Rush leading the way, the team may take the cautious approach. With the most recent updates on his current recovery, it may be in the best interest of the Cowboys as well as fantasy managers to go that route.

The Cowboys elected not to put Prescott on Injured Reserve, as the hope was he would be back within four games. With Week 5 being the potential fourth game of Prescott’s absence, it is fair to wonder if this was the right decision. Will Prescott return in Week 5?

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Dak Prescott Injury Updates for Fantasy Football

The original timeline following surgery for Dak Prescott’s injured thumb was 6-8 weeks. Almost immediately, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones advised he was expecting a 3-4 week recovery. This did nothing for the organization or fantasy managers other than making the timeline unclear. We were all left wondering just how long the QB would be out of game action.

Heading into a Monday Night Football game in Week 3, Prescott advised he was feeling great and should begin getting into some throwing action in the upcoming week. We took his word for it as reported.

Dak Prescott told @saltersl he is not ruling out a return next week 👀 pic.twitter.com/466Rz4kYkP

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 27, 2022

Unfortunately, Prescott may have gotten a little ahead of himself. He was scheduled to see a doctor following the game and ultimately was not cleared to practice heading into Week 4. He went on to miss another week. While the Cowboys went on to win their third straight game. Based on the updated timeline, the hope shifted to Week 5 for Prescott’s return.

In typical Jerry Jones fashion, we did not have to wait for practice reports for an update on the Cowboys quarterback's current recovery progress. Jones revealed an important note during a recent radio interview.

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 “The Fan” that Dak Prescott’s grip is "not well enough to play" this week vs. the Rams. It’s another week of Cooper Rush, who remains unbeaten as Dallas’ starting QB.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 4, 2022

As much as we want to believe every update we receive from the most vocal owner in sports, it is important to take injury updates with a grain of salt. Luckily, Wednesday provided some clarity on where Prescott stands as far as getting into practice reps.

As he continues his recovery from a thumb fracture, #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is expected to work off to the side, source said. He’ll be present, as always, but not at a point of being involved in practice in a substantial way.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 5, 2022

Is Dak Prescott Playing in Week 5?

It appears Cooper Rush is in line for another start against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5. The way Rush and the team have been playing this seems like the best route for the Cowboys. While fantasy managers will have to be patient for at least another week, Prescott should return at 100 percent. 

Being able to get some work in practice, albeit minimal, is a big step in the right direction. Getting two weeks of practice participation will certainly help Prescott in his recovery as well as his preparation within an offense that has been producing in his absence. His ability to continue to run the offense and be a playmaker while staying healthy will be even more important after the recent success, and especially after a rough outing in Week 1.

Any timeline that would be considered rushing Prescott back from the injury appears to be over with. He should return solid back-end QB1 value upon his return, hopefully in Week 6.

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