Dak Prescott could return earlier than first anticipated.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday morning that the Dallas Cowboys quarterback could return in four to six weeks following Monday’s surgery, per sources informed of the situation.
The timeline would depend on how the bone heals and when Prescott resumes throwing following the clean surgery, Pelissero added.
Jerry Jones is anticipating an even quicker return for Prescott one day after surgery, and for that reason the Cowboys owner said the team will not be placing him on injured reserve.
"We won't be putting him on IR," Jones said Tuesday morning on 105.3 The Fan. "Which means we want him to be in consideration for playing within the next four games. We will not put him on IR."
Prescott’s updated recovery timeline quells any perceived need for the Cowboys to seek outside aid -- i.e., trade for the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo. Instead, Jones underscored the clubs’ faith in backups Cooper Rush and Will Grier to get them through the next month or so before Prescott’s return.
"The people that are ready to play quarterback for us are the ones that played all preseason -- Cooper Rush and ," Jones said.
A four-to-six week timeframe could have Prescott back on the field before the club’s Week 9 bye and as soon as Week 6 on Oct. 16 -- their first matchup against NFC East rival Philadelphia. The initial timeline had Prescott returning by Week 8 or the Cowboys playing it safe and bringing him back after the bye week.
The bumped-up timeline is potentially big news for a Cowboys club that was staring at facing the first half of the season sans their star quarterback.
Said Jones: "We feel better about it than we did Sunday night."