Cowboys' Dak Prescott needs 'a full week of prep before he plays'

Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott admitted last week that he was "looking at" returning from the serious thumb injury that's kept him out the past three games for this coming Sunday's matchup at the Los Angeles Rams. 

Prescott still needs to get the blessing of head coach Mike McCarthy and others to make that plan his reality. 

"I definitely want to see Dak go through a full week of prep before he plays," McCarthy told reporters Monday, per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "I mean, we’re not talking about being out one week here or two. This is going to be a month. . . . We’ve got four seven-day runs here, so I think that will time up." 

Prescott initially suffered the setback during the Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 11.

Earlier in the day, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said during a morning appearance on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan that X-rays on Tuesday will help determine if Prescott can prepare to face the Rams this week. 

"The biggest thing of all is Dak feeling like he can throw the ball at 100 percent," Jones said at that time. 

Backup Cooper Rush has guided the 3-1 Cowboys to three straight victories in Prescott's absence and, according to Anthony Holzman-Escareno of NFL Research, is the first signal-caller to win each of his first four starts (dating back to last year) in franchise history. Insiders continue to insist Prescott will return to the lineup as soon as he's cleared regardless of Rush's play, but that may not happen until the Week 6 divisional clash at the currently-unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 16.