Cowboys Announce Dak Prescott News Before Giants Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 10:07 AM ET

The Dallas Cowboys earned a 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday, Christmas Day, snapping a three-game skid and improving to 7-8-1 in the 2025 season. Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 19 of 37 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns, including an 86-yard scoring pass to KaVontae Turpin, in a performance that gave Dallas a morale-boosting finish at home.

The win came after Dallas had already been eliminated from playoff contention earlier in Week 16, as they now look to finish the regular season on a strong note. Dallas now heads to Week 18 against the New York Giants with the chance to finish 8-8-1 and close out the year with a win against a divisional rival.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4).© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

With playoff hopes gone, questions arose about how the Cowboys would handle playing time for key veterans, especially Prescott, as the season winds down.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed Prescott will be the starter in the season finale. Speaking to reporters Monday, Schottenheimer said the plan is to “finish strong and have Dak play” against the Giants, making it clear Prescott will take the first snap in Week 18.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones backed that decision while hinting Prescott’s total playing time could be managed. Speaking on 105.3 The Fan, Jones said:

“We’re gonna start Dak Sunday at New York,” but added that “how we use Dak, let’s make that part of the gameplan that we won’t talk about” (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota).

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan said, "We're gonna start Dak" Sunday at New York. But he sounded like Prescott might not play the entire game. "How we use Dak, let's make that part of the gameplan that we won't talk about."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 30, 2025

His remarks appear to confirm that Prescott will begin the game, but his snaps could be limited depending on game flow and Dallas’ evaluation priorities.

Prescott remains one of Dallas’ most productive offensive weapons this season, entering Week 18 with a league-leading 4,482 passing yards, while adding 30 touchdowns in 16 games. Even without playoff implications, the Cowboys appear intent on giving their franchise quarterback the opportunity to finish the year on the field and maintain momentum heading into the offseason.

Sunday’s matchup against the Giants offers Dallas a chance to close at .500. The game will be broadcast nationally on Fox at 1:00 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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