Cowboys' Dak Prescott sparks confusion about walking boot story

There remain some unanswered questions about why Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was recently spotted wearing a protective boot on his right foot.

"I’m great," Prescott said via a text message sent to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Prescott added he only wore the boot because "the last time I went deep sea fishing my (ankle) swole up."

ESPN's Todd Archer mentioned that a source confirmed Prescott "is no longer wearing the boot."

Prescott famously suffered a horrific compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in October 2020. The 30-year-old insisted that wearing the boot was related to the "same issues" he's been dealing with since he needed surgery to repair the initial setback.

Nervous Cowboys fans likely will breathe sighs of relief, but one can't help but wonder if there's at least slightly more to this story. Multiple individuals, including NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport (h/t Christian Gonzales), reported on Thursday that Prescott was recovering from "a very minor foot sprain" that is "not considered to be anything that should affect his preparation for the 2024 season."

According to Hill, Prescott revealed that wearing the boot is "part of the regular maintenance he’s had to deal with since suffering the fractured ankle in 2020." Additionally, the signal-caller "plans to be ready to go without limitations when the Cowboys report to Oxnard for training camp on July 23."

Prescott remains in the final year of a contract that includes a no-tag clause and seemingly hasn't come close to signing any type of extension this offseason. While there's currently no indication he's in any danger of losing the Dallas starting job to 24-year-old Trey Lance this summer, some within the Cowboys may or may not be hoping that Lance impresses throughout preseason appearances just in case Prescott enters 2025 without an extension.

Prescott's walking boot is probably an insignificant story shared at a quiet time of the football year regardless of whether or not he went down with a "minor foot sprain" at some point after the Cowboys completed their mandatory minicamp. If, however, he needs the boot later this month, Lance could spend some practice time as a temporary QB1 ahead of Dallas' preseason opener versus the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 11.