A week ago, Dak Prescott caused a stir when he was spotted in a walking boot. Immediate reports on the matter downplayed the issue as nothing more than precautionary.
On Tuesday, speaking from his annual football camp in Texas, Prescott reiterated that he wore the boot simply because his former surgically repaired foot was a bit sore.
"Honestly, I'm getting older. It's the same ankle that I snapped and had a nasty surgery on four years ago," he told reporters, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. "Couple of hard days of training and, you know, you get a little sore and you're going on a fishing trip and you want to protect it and make sure that things don't get worse. Literally, it's absolutely nothing. People are reaching, trying to make things that they aren't. I'm getting older. Have to take care of my body. Have to be smart. If I can take precautions and lessening something by putting on a boot, I'm gonna do it. So, sorry that it caused such a whirlwind."
As we age, we all deal with unanticipated aches and pains. Not all of us have a walking boot lying around to toss on when things get a little creaky. Given that he was going on a fishing trip, adding extra protection from potential bumps on the water isn't a terrible idea.
The precautionary move does underscore that, turning 31 later this month, Prescott is aware of his mortal fragility -- as we all should be -- particularly when it comes to playing a sport brutal on the body. As we saw with Tom Brady for years and years, anything to help extend a career should be considered and utilized, even if a random picture on social media of said utilization gives fans a brief heart palpitation.
Prescott has been in the spotlight all offseason as he enters the final year of his contract with no extension currently in sight. As training camp approaches, the Cowboys quarterback said he's not concerned with how the deal might turn out. He's just focusing on preparing for the 2024 campaign.
"There's been conversations back and forth, but for the most part, for me, I'm gonna let my agent do that," he said. "Especially as we get right here into training camp. Day 1 of training camp, my mind flips to just obviously helping my team and doing everything I can within the organization and on the football field to make sure that I'm my best and everyone around me is their best. The money and all that will take care of itself as it always has."
Prescott doesn't have to fret right now. While the security of a long-term deal is ideal, he's set to hit the open market next offseason, where he should cash in handsomely. Of course, that assumes his health holds up for the next seven months.
