Cowboys' Dak Prescott, Solomon Thomas discuss 'carrying on the light' of Marshawn Kneeland

The Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1) are dealing with the difficult task of preparing for their upcoming "Monday Night Football" game at the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) as the Cowboys continue to mourn the passing of teammate Marshawn Kneeland. 

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott indicated he was grateful to be able to focus on football-related matters coming off Dallas' Week 10 bye.

Cowboys "moving forward" but "not forgetting" after Marshawn Kneeland tragedy

"Having dealt with loss, that is the best medicine for me," Prescott explained, per Todd Archer of ESPN. "So getting back out there, handing the ball off and sprinting an extra 10 yards and making sure I'm doing it hard, Marshawn went through my mind a few times at practice today. I just countered that with running harder after a play or trying to do something to better this team to show that. It felt good. I know it was a great practice. A lot of guys were out there, good energy, beautiful weather. As I said, we're not forgetting, but we're moving forward, carrying on the light."

According to authorities, Kneeland died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase on Nov. 6. Kneeland's girlfriend reportedly contacted police after she had received a concerning text message from the 24-year-old. 

As Prescott alluded to, his older brother died by suicide in the spring of 2020. Prescott has since spoken openly about receiving assistance for anxiety and depression following that tragedy. 

Cowboys defensive lineman Solomon Thomas sports multiple tattoos on his arm to honor his sister, who died by suicide in 2018. 

"The only way I know how to get out of it, to move forward from a tragic situation like this, is to live for that person, take the amazing qualities that you learned from them, take the smiles and memories that you get from him, and apply them to your life every day. Live for that person," Thomas said on Thursday. "Talk to their spirit. Hold their spirit with you every day. The only way I truly believe you can let someone die is not living with their spirit, not saying their name, not talking to them, not loving them, not feeling the grief. Because grief is pain. But grief is also love. You feel that hurt. You feel that guilt. You feel that shame. You feel the sadness and depression because you've had so much love for that person."

Cowboys want to "play like Marshawn" moving forward

In his final game back on Nov. 3, Kneeland recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a Dallas touchdown.