The likelihood of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott participating in the preseason is decreasing, as head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday that there's a "good chance" Prescott -- who's dealing with a right shoulder strain -- won't play in the team's upcoming game on Saturday.
And while it's difficult to blame the Cowboys for their precautionary approach with Prescott, franchise legend and Hall of Fame wide receiver Drew Pearson believes a small taste of live, game action would do Prescott some good.
"I'd want some action, myself. I'd want to know if I can step between the lines of an NFL game and play at NFL speed, take the hits at that level, and come out of it," Pearson told the Tiki and Tierney show on Wednesday. "I would want to know. Even if I go in for one series, one snap -- anything to get that feel again, to get hit -- it'd give me the confidence that I can do this... If you play scared and afraid to get hurt, you're going to get hurt.
"So, let's try to be positive with him. Give him some action, let him knocked around, tell the offensive line to do a better job of blocking for him, if that's the case. I think he needs to get knocked around and see what he can do at game speed, that kind of situation. And that'd give him the confidence -- and the team and coaching staff confidence -- that he's definitely ready to go."
Prescott, who's fully recovered from a devastating ankle injury suffered during Week 5 of last season, sustained the shoulder strain during practice back on July 28. The 28-year-old has been a limited participant in practice this week, as weekend MRI results confirmed that his shoulder is healing properly.
On Monday, McCarthy told reporters that the Cowboys will use their fourth preseason game on Aug. 29 to evaluate the bottom of their roster before making final cuts. Based on this plan, Prescott's only shot at preseason action would come this Saturday, against the Houston Texans.
"I was there at the practice on Monday. Dak looked fine throwing the football and moving around," Pearson said. "There was no hesitation in any of his movements, drop backs, going side to side, sprinting forward... I must've counted him, unofficially, throwing at least 70-100 passes during the time I saw him at practice...
"Now, he wasn't zinging it or throwing hard or throwing it extra deep. But he was throwing it with no pain, no hesitation in his throwing motion. So, I think he'll be okay by the start of the season."
Dallas will open the 2021 regular season on the road against the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Sept. 9. According to the William Hill Sportsbook, the Cowboys currently have the best odds (+120) to win the NFC East, and the sixth-best odds (+1500) to win the conference.
The entire Cowboys conversation between Pearson and Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.