Dak Prescott is unlikely to play in the preseason, but he should be good to go for Week 1. Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys' Dak Prescott 'expects' to play Week 1 vs. Buccaneers

Shortly after Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Wednesday that there was a "good chance" starting quarterback Dak Prescott "probably won't play" in Saturday's preseason game against the Houston Texans because of the right latissimus strain he first suffered in late July, some understandably wondered if Prescott will be good to go when Dallas opens the regular season at the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9. 

Prescott has since tried to put such concerns to bed: 

Prescott told reporters in July he wanted to face opposing defenses this month to reacclimate himself to live in-game action after his 2020 season prematurely ended last October when he suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. The 28-year-old has remained unavailable because of his latest setback, though, and McCarthy has already ruled Prescott out for the Aug. 29 preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

As of Thursday, Garrett Gilbert would start over Ben DiNucci at quarterback for Dallas in Tampa Bay if Prescott can't play on the second Thursday of September. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Mavericks advance to Western Conference Finals aided by controversial call late
Connor McDavid, Oilers hammer Canucks to force Game 7
Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk epic increases excitement for potential rematch
Seize the Grey wins in muddy Preakness
Even Mike Budenholzer admits the Suns need a point guard
Watch: Juan Soto's first multi-homer game as a Yankee
Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa lead at PGA Championship
Knicks could get major boost for Game 7 showdown with Pacers
Giants All-Star pitcher suffers setback in recovery from injury
Panthers star named winner of 2024 Selke Trophy
WNBA to investigate $100,000 sponsorship deals for Aces players
Tiger Woods blames one big factor for missing the cut at PGA Championship
'Ain't good enough': Draymond Green claims Celtics must 'win it all' or it's a 'failure'
Blue Jays GM wants struggling club to feel 'massive sense of urgency'
Raptors expected to flip former NBA champion during the offseason
MLB insider reveals Mets' massive extension offer that Pete Alonso turned down
Celtics legend provides update after gruesome finger injury
Bulls hire former NBA head coach as top assistant
Chiefs move on from young running back
20-year MLB veteran working out, unsure about playing future

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.