Second MRI shows Dak Prescott’s shoulder injury healing; Cowboys QB nearing return

When Dak Prescott disclosed a shoulder injury days into training camp, the Dallas Cowboys were understandably concerned. Fortunately for Dallas, the franchise seems to have caught a break and could see its franchise quarterback on the field soon.

A few days after the Cowboys raised concerns by announced Prescott would undergo an MRI on his unique injury, the results are in. Despite Troy Aikman’s skepticism, it looks like Prescott is healing right on schedule.

According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the MRI results on Prescott’s right lat strain revealed exactly what the organization anticipated -- one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks is getting healthier.

Find out where Dak Prescott lands in our NFL top 100 player rankings

Dallas ruled Prescott out for its second preseason game, exercising caution with the franchise quarterback. Team doctors are following the recommendations of the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees -- MLB teams that routinely see lat injuries.

While Prescott didn’t play against the Arizona Cardinals, he did throw the football. Reporters spotted him taking part in a throwing session before the game, another sign that he is inching toward a return.

The Cowboys don’t anticipate Prescott being available for their third preseason game, but they will benefit from a unique schedule this year. While 30 NFL teams are playing only three preseason games, Dallas and the Pittsburgh Steelers have four.

• Dak Prescott stats (2019-’20): 6,758 passing yards, 39 passing touchdowns 65.9% completion rate, 99.7 passer rating (21 games)

As a result, the two-time Pro Bowl selection could return to practice on a limited capacity within the next week. If all goes well, he could see a few drives in the Cowboys’ preseason finale.

Even if Prescott doesn’t play a snap in August, the Cowboys are happy. They know how bad things get when their biggest star is hurt. With the regular season approaching, Dallas doesn’t have to worry about experiencing that again.