Cowboys: Dak Prescott offers candid take on Aaron Donald ahead of Week 8
The NFL is rightfully known as a "what have you done for me lately?" type of league. That's why some are already unsurprisingly second-guessing Aaron Donald's caliber after a relatively low number of sacks (3) to start the season. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is not making the same mistake entering his team's game against […]
The NFL is rightfully known as a "what have you done for me lately?" type of league. That's why some are already unsurprisingly second-guessing Aaron Donald's caliber after a relatively low number of sacks (3) to start the season.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is not making the same mistake entering his team's game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8.
"(The Rams are) still a fundamentally sound defense," Prescott told reporters on Thursday. "Obviously, when you've got Aaron Donald on your team, it starts with him."
To this comment, Prescott was immediately met with the question that seems to be circling around NFL media and fans in 2023. Is he the same Aaron Donald as before? His response was so real that he had to be bleeped out from the team's YouTube page.
“Shit yeah, he is," Prescott replied candidly before the reporter even finished her question. "Yeah, he is. I’ve got to play him this week, of course, he is."
While Prescott said it with a laugh, you could see the respect the Cowboys quarterback has for Donald, who's become one of the greatest players of all time. Entering Week 8, he's the focus of the offense, says Dak.
"Yeah, he’s still the focus," Prescott added. "That guy, I don’t know, what is it, three Defensive Player of the Year (awards)? Something like that? A player of a generation. Having played against him now for a while, I mean, he can ruin a game. So you’ve got to give him focus. Give him credit because he deserves that. He’s a hell of a player. Yeah, he hasn’t lost a step. Yeah, he’s still Aaron Donald.”
It's hard to understand where the criticism comes from for the Rams' defensive star. Sure, he's hinted at retirement here and there but this year, the guy leads the NFL in pressures, QB hits, and PFF's pass rush grade among all interior defensive linemen. He also has the fourth-highest pass rush win rate this season.
Watching Donald go up against Tyler Smith and/or Zack Martin is one of the best match-ups you can ask for in football. If the Cowboys want to win on Sunday, they better be ready for a fight.
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