The emotions of a last-second win against the New York Giants could not overcome the disappointment the Dallas Cowboys felt Sunday after losing quarterback Dak Prescott for the season.
Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle that required surgery Sunday night. The injury occurred on a 9-yard run while being tackled by Giants defensive back Logan Ryan with 6 minutes, 33 seconds to play in the third quarter, and it quickly brought a hush to the AT&T Stadium crowd, teammates and opponents alike.
Prescott left the field, his right leg in an air cast, on a cart and in tears. He was taken to a local hospital for surgery to clean out the wound and repair the fracture, a procedure that went “very well,” a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Cowboys head team orthopedist Dan Cooper brought in noted foot and ankle doctor Gene Curry to do the repair Sunday night, the source said.
Prescott is expected to be released from the hospital on Monday. A source told ESPN that Prescott faces a recovery timetable of four to six months.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones called the injury heartbreaking.
“I know this young man very well,” Jones said in a statement. “I know the personal hardship and strife that he has faced, dealt with and overcome in his young life. And I know of no one who is more prepared, from the perspective of mental and emotional toughness and determination, than Dak Prescott to respond and recover from this challenge that has been put in front of him.
“He is an inspiration to everyone he touches. He has all of our love and support. And we have no doubt that he will return to the position of leadership and purpose that he brings to our team.”
An outpouring of sadness and support, both from within the Cowboys and throughout the sports world, followed after the game.
“It sucks. Yeah, it sucks,” said running back Ezekiel Elliott, who has become Prescott’s best friend on the team. “I know we won; it just sucks to lose Dak, our leader. And I was talking to the guys and it’s going to take all of us. It’s going to take all of us to fill that void that we’re going to be missing from 4. Just gotta go out there and play for him.”
Ryan said he felt terrible about the injury.
“First and foremost, the worst thing that happened today was the Dak injury, it’s bigger than football,” Ryan said. “I feel terrible, it was a routine football play. … You’ve got a guy, and I am in a similar position, he is scratching and clawing at one year on his deal to try and get rewarded, try to do the right thing, try to show up to work, try to lead his team, try to get a lucrative contract. He had to come out and prove it this year, so for him to get this type of injury, that’s why I feel like Dak — I hope he gets $500 million when he comes back. He deserves it. He is a hell of a quarterback.”
Players from both teams, as well as former Cowboys head coach and current Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, consoled Prescott as he left to a big cheer. He raised his right hand in acknowledgement.
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