NFL Trade Rumors: Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott Downplays Walking Boot

The Dallas Cowboys and their fans can apparently breathe a little easier. After being spotted wearing a walking boot while deep sea fishing earlier this week, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott revealed that he was only wearing the boot for precautionary reasons.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott explains why he’s wearing a walking boot 3 weeks before camphttps://t.co/iCM8Fph2gK

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Apparently, Prescott routinely wears the walking boot to manage soreness and swelling from a 2020 ankle injury. That injury ended his season that year and continues to bother him to this day.

That Prescott is still dealing with symptoms from an injury that took place so long ago may raise eyebrows, but it clearly hasn't interfered with his play. Since 2021, he's amassed a 31-14 record while averaging 262.8 passing yards per game. The Cowboys have also finished as the league's highest-scoring team in two of the past three seasons.

With training camp still three weeks away, it's very unlikely that Prescott's situation will affect the Cowboys' season, but it is a reminder of just how much NFL players put themselves through. Players routinely manage lingering injuries to take the field on Sundays, and Prescott is no different. Though a walking boot is alarming, this injury clearly hasn't hobbled him in recent seasons.

Still, Prescott's health is yet another complicating factor in his ongoing contract negotiations. Entering the final year of his deal, Prescott is due for an extension, and the Cowboys could benefit from clearing up cap space: He's set to count an astonishing $55.1 million against the cap in 2024.

Prescott will likely only settle for a deal that makes him the league's highest-paid player. An ongoing injury situation may help explain the Cowboys' reticence to make a deal.