Reason revealed after Dak Prescott picture with protective boot goes viral

Quarterback Dak Prescott is in the middle of an important part of his career. Going into the last year of his contract with the Dallas Cowboys and with a no-tag clause, he's slated to go on a contract season — and hit free agency next year with a huge earning potential if something doesn't get done by then.

But for that to happen, he needs to stay healthy. And a picture of him with a protective walking boot went viral on social media. Dak is in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, enjoying vacation right before the Cowboys go into training camp later this month.

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Gladfully for Prescott and the Cowboys, it's nothing major. According to Ian Rapoport, an insider for NFL Network, it's just a minor foot sprain. Based on the reports, it won't preclude Prescott from preparing to the next season.

Dak Prescott has been in the NFL since 2016, and he's in the final year of his second contract. And he's coming off his best season in the league. With Mike McCarthy calling plays in 2023, Prescott finished the year with 4,516 passing yards, 36 touchdowns (1st in the NFL), nine interceptions, and a 105.9 passer rating.

Prescott will make $34 million this season. But as the Cowboys had restructured his deal in previous seasons and decided not to touch it again in 2024, it will be a $55.455 million cap hit — and if a new deal doesn't get done, Dallas will also have $40.46 million in dead money in 2025.

"Certainly, Dak is a priority in terms of his contract,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “Certainly, we’ll be taking a look at Trey (Lance). I know Trey will look at his situation as well, in terms of what his options are. I’m sure a lot of that will depend on how everything works out with Dak. Cooper has been a strong backup here for us. But all of those things will just have to play out.”

In all likelihood, especially because of how proven Prescott is and how unproven the options are, the Cowboys' front office will end up paying him a fair deal based on the quarterback market.

Related: Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy reveals offseason, preseason plan to develop Trey Lance in 2024