Mike McCarthy is like many Dallas Cowboys fans right now: excited.
After missing the last five games with a fractured thumb, Dak Prescott is expected to start Sunday when the Cowboys host the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys have fared just fine with Cooper Rush, but the return of Prescott should provide a boost to a Cowboys team that seems well-positioned to remain a tough customer the rest of the season.
McCarthy said in his weekly appearance on “Shan and RJ” that he’s thrilled to see Prescott back.
“I wouldn’t say relieved, I’m just excited for Dak," McCarthy said. "I think any time one of your players goes through the rehab process to return to play, you see these men in here every single day just doing whatever they can to get back. Our medical staff does a tremendous job with that. I’m just excited to see him return and get out there and compete.”
Because of where a plate was inserted into Prescott’s thumb, the bone didn’t necessarily need to be fully healed in order for him to return. Because of that, the team had a close eye on not only his comfort gripping the ball, but also how well he was spinning it.
That box seems to have been checked off.
“He throws a heavy ball, and I think yesterday was the first padded practice, and frankly it was more about the team periods, being around the action in the pocket, those are the impulses you can’t really emulate in the rehab process," McCarthy said. "Those are the things you really need, but he’s throwing the ball just fine.”
Coming back from injury is always a bit of a tightrope walk. You want the player to reasonably push himself, but never at the risk of reinjury.
During Prescott’s recovery, the lines of communication were open enough that all parties seemed comfortable with how the rehab was approached.
“There’s a lot of conversation, there’s a lot of planning that goes into what our players do every single day," McCarthy said. "Dak is very regimented in his approach in everything he does, so we’re well aware how much he’s been throwing and the things that he’s doing away from the facility. So, that's all part of the return to play process.
“You may work as much as Dak, but no one works more than he does. You just keep in tune with that, but the practice part of it is always the last hurdle.”
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