The Dallas Cowboys are once again walking on shaky ground. The official start of Dak Prescott’s record contract, which made him the highest-paid player by annual salary in NFL history, coincides with a great deal of uncertainty. Although the quarterback is focused on returning from his most recent hamstring injury, alarm bells are already ringing within the organization.
Prescott’s injury history is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. He has missed time in three of the last five seasons and his durability is now one of the coaching staff’s biggest concerns. That’s why the arrival of rookie Joe Milton from the Patriots is no longer seen as just a backup measure, but as a possible contingency plan, even in the long term.
Romo’s memory still haunts Dallas
Cowboys fans have lived a similar story. In 2016, Tony Romo was the undisputed starter until a preseason injury changed everything. Dak Prescott, then an unheralded rookie, took over and never let go. Romo was sidelined and soon retired.
Today, the pieces seem to be aligning in a similar way. Although Milton is not on the radar as a clear heir, neither was Prescott in his first year. If the rookie gets minutes and shines, it is not out of the question that the franchise will make another difficult but necessary decision.
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A new cycle in the Prescott era?
Prescott still has room to regain control, but he knows another injury could open the door to an uncomfortable debate. The team has invested heavily in him, but has also shown that it prioritizes the competitive present over loyalties.
The immediate future of the Cowboys will once again depend on the health of their quarterback. If history repeats itself, Dallas will have to decide whether to continue to rely on its star or change eras again, as it did with Romo.
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