Dak Prescott’s health at heart of Cowboys-Vikings showdown
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[October 30, 2021] The
status of Dak Prescott is to be firmed up Saturday or Sunday as the
Dallas Cowboys prepare for an offensive showdown with the Minnesota
Vikings on Sunday night in Minneapolis.
A bye week didn't totally cure the calf strain Prescott suffered in
Week 6, and he was a limited practice participant on Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday.
The Cowboys (5-1) badly want Prescott on the field against the
Vikings (3-3) but aren't pushing the pace yet. Backup Cooper Rush
received work with the first team all week in case Prescott's calf
doesn't progress to the liking of team trainer Britt Brown.
"I think it's a matter of trying to make sure Cooper's ready and
make sure Dak is getting what he needs," Dallas coach Mike McCarthy
told reporters earlier this week. "Until Dak clears the threshold of
the rehab component with Britt, we won't make that determination on
going full go until we get to that point. With that, we've got to
make sure we get Cooper ready."
Rush has never started an NFL game and his three career pass
attempts came in 2017. Surely that isn't the guy anyone associated
with NBC's Sunday Night Football wants to see on the field for
Dallas.
However, Prescott is aware a setback could be detrimental to the
Cowboys' season.
"It's not fully my decision because there is a bigger picture,"
Prescott said. "It's more than just one game."
Rush has received the bulk of the practice repetitions all week
while Prescott has mainly been involved in individual drills and
rehabbing the calf.
"That helps more than usual," the 27-year-old Rush told reporters.
"Usually you're preparing for a game as the backup without getting
any reps all week. So definitely going into it, you feel a whole lot
better."
Prescott topped 400 yards for the second time this season --
finishing with 445 -- in the game he was hurt, a 35-29 overtime win
over the New England Patriots. He also threw three touchdown passes,
marking the fifth time he has tossed three or more this season.
Prescott has demonstrated he is fully recovered from last season's
devastating ankle injury by passing for 1,813 yards, 16 touchdowns
and four interceptions.
Entering Week 8, the Cowboys led the NFL in both scoring offense
(34.2 points per game) and total yardage (460.8).
Perhaps the one disappointment is that Dallas is tied for 24th in
red zone efficiency, having scored touchdowns on just 56 percent of
its opportunities from inside the opponents' 20-yard line
"Yeah, it's not good," Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore
said. "I think we're really, really close."
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Minnesota also is coming off a bye. The Vikings are
14th in scoring at 24.5 points but fifth in yardage (414.2) behind
quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has thrown for 1,769 yards, 13
touchdowns and two interceptions.
Cousins passed for a season-high 373 yards and matched his high of
three touchdown passes as Minnesota registered a 34-28 overtime
victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 6.
Cousins is aware that the Cowboys are a dangerous
and potent team.
"I think you have to be aware of the team you're playing, which
includes the offense and the special teams," Cousins said Wednesday.
"Just be aware of the whole picture, and much of that is coaching
decisions as opposed to me as the player."
Vikings running Dalvin Cook had a season-best 140 rushing yards
against the Panthers. Wideout Justin Jefferson has 41 receptions
this season and has caught at least five in each of his past nine
games.
Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer is wary of the Dallas passing game.
Wideouts CeeDee Lamb (33 catches, 497 yards) and Amari Cooper (30
for 373) and tight end Dalton Schultz (31 for 359) have combined for
11 touchdown receptions.
"It's hard to fool him, No. 1, when they have a good idea of what's
going on," Zimmer said of Prescott. "But all quarterbacks for the
most part do a good job of trying to figure out post-snap coverage.
That's really what's important."
The Vikings are tied for the NFL lead with 21 sacks. Defensive end
Danielle Hunter has six.
The Dallas defense is led by cornerback Trevon Diggs, who has an
NFL-best seven interceptions. He has returned two for scores.
Diggs (ankle) was limited in practice during most of the week but
was a full participant on Friday and is good to go. Left tackle
Tyron Smith (ankle) and defensive end Dorance Armstrong (ankle) were
listed as questionable.
Minnesota will play without defensive tackle Michael Pierce (elbow),
defensive end Patrick Jones II (knee) and tight end Ben Ellefson
(knee, foot). Ellefson was placed on injured reserve Thursday and
must miss at least three games.
Vikings wideout Dede Westbrook (ankle) is questionable.
--Field Level Media
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