Cowboys Country

Dak LOOK: Cowboys QB Pre-Game Throwing - And More!

As Prescott himself said recently regarding his readiness for Week 1: “There’s no doubt.”

Mike Fisher

ARLINGTON - When does the Dak Prescott “pitch count” end? When do the rumors of him “never being fully back” healthy end?

Maybe the process advances with the truth of what is happening here, now, live.

The Dallas Cowboys QB is engaging in a pregame warmup ritual here at AT&T Stadium before the NFL exhibition game against the Houston Texans.

And he looks fine. Still. As he has for more than a week since first experience shoulder discomfort on July 28.

All part of a plan.

First, the loosening up, cords and shoulders ...

Then the familiar shoulder/hips ritual ...

Then the short throws ...

Then some fun read-option with buddy Ezekiel Elliott ...

And on it progressed ...

“To be honest with you, we’re just trusting the training staff on this one. They’re counting every throw,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said this week as the team “This is a volume regulation, endurance. There’s a big-picture outlook to this.”

Prescott pulled himself out of practice in Oxnard back on July 28 after feeling discomfort in his throwing shoulder. He was diagnosed as having a muscle strain and Dallas has used a cautious approach since then. He has been throwing at practice, and will surely do the same before tonight’s game before moving to the sidelines to let Garrett Gilbert start with the offense.

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So, that pitch count? McCarthy said it will no longer be utilized the week leading up to the first real game, Week 1 at Tampa Bay. But until then?

“He’ll definitely be involved in some form of practice more than this week.” said McCarthy, who has also ruled out Prescott playing in the Aug. 29 preseason finale against Jacksonville. (But) to stand here and tell you he’d be full go and take all the reps, I’m not there yet.”

And those “never fully healthy” reports? ESPN’s Adam Schefter has suggesting that, in a too-casual manner, as Michael Irvin has already done in a visit with CowboysSI.com. (Gil Brandt has also suggested the same idea regarding a lingering i.)

At this point, to Prescott - who has put last year’s season-ending ankle injury behind him - all that really matters about the ramp-up is the Sept. 9 season-opener against the Buccaneers.

As Prescott himself said recently regarding his readiness for Week 1: “There’s no doubt.”

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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983 and the Dallas Cowboys since 1990, is the author of two best-selling books on the Cowboys.

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