Talk to enough Cowboys fans, and you’ll hear some variation of the same concern: Dak Prescott isn’t the mobile quarterback he used to be. He’s turning 32 this summer, and now he’s recovering from a hamstring avulsion that required surgery.
With the Cowboys making cap space moves this week, Prescott’s health wasn’t just a talking point—it was fueling discussions about his contract restructure that’s now become a reality. Dallas has pulled the trigger and moved a ton of his 2025 base salary into bonus territory, providing a ton of cap space. Was restructuring his deal the smart move?
Should Dallas have taken the $90 million hit now to avoid pushing dead money into future seasons? Some fans felt this way before the new deal had been announced.
It’s a nuanced question, becaue before discussing Prescott’s long-term value, folks should take a step back and look at where he stands in his recovery.
Where Dak Prescott’s Recovery Actually Stands
Prescott recently gave an update on his progress saying, “The last two weeks have been huge and progressive for me. I wouldn’t say I’m running full speed yet, but everything’s on the right track, and I’m excited.”
In that same update, he mentioned that he’d certainly be ready for the first game of the season.
That sounds like good news, yet some fans see this as a reason for concern. The initial reports suggested a three-month recovery timeline, but that was always an optimistic estimate. Medical resources inform that hamstring avulsions requiring surgery can take anywhere from several months to a year for a full return to pre-injury athletic form.
It makes sense why Prescott isn’t running at full speed yet. His surgery took place in mid-November—which means he’s just now hitting the stage where advanced rehab for this type of injury typically begins. He’s actually right on schedule.
So while concerns about age and mobility aren’t baseless, no one should act as if his recovery in this situation is atypical. The real question is: How do the Cowboys plan to manage his contract and roster-building decisions around him?
How Prescott’s Contract Ties Into All of This
The Cowboys restructured Prescott’s contract and create $36.6 million in cap space for this season. The alternative was to take a $90 million cap hit now and give themselves more flexibility in 2026 and beyond. If the front office went that route, it would’ve signaled a shift in how they’re thinking about the quarterback position long-term.
This isn’t just about Prescott’s health—it’s about how Dallas views their future. If there was any doubt before about the front office committing to Prescott as a way of life for the foreseeable future, shifting $36 million from this year’s cap into the next four seasons cements the plan.
Final Thought: Let’s Not Rush to a Verdict
Prescott doesn’t have the same agility or mobility as earlier in his career, prior to the 2020 leg injury that robbed him of that season. But that doesn’t mean he can’t still be highly effective—especially under a new, more perceptive offensive play-caller.
So instead of examining every injury update for signs of decline, maybe the real takeaway is this: Dak Prescott is recovering as expected, and the Cowboys’ decision tells fans more about the future of the team than anything Prescott shares about his hamstring.
Because in the end, what really matters isn’t how fast he’s running today—it’s what the Cowboys look like when they line up in September.
