Dallas Cowboys: Former NFL doctor assesses severity of Prescott's surgery
On Tuesday, Mike McCarthy dropped big news regarding Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. In his first time holding a press conference since January 19th, he shocked Cowboys Nation by stating Prescott had had offseason shoulder surgery. McCarthy immediately cleared the air by saying it was a "clean-up" procedure and that the 28-year-old would be ready […]
On Tuesday, Mike McCarthy dropped big news regarding Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. In his first time holding a press conference since January 19th, he shocked Cowboys Nation by stating Prescott had had offseason shoulder surgery.
McCarthy immediately cleared the air by saying it was a "clean-up" procedure and that the 28-year-old would be ready to go for offseason activities. It's worth noting the surgery took place on his non-throwing shoulder, whereas the shoulder strain he dealt with last training camp was on his right shoulder.
So, how serious is it? Should Cowboys fans be concerned at all? Or is it nothing to even think about?
Dr. David Chao, a former NFL team doctor for the then-San Diego Chargers, chimed in with his expert insight on the YouTube channel Sports Injury Central.
"It will actually mean very little," said Dr. Chao on the video, noting that any surgery to a big-name player in the NFL will make headline news. He also pointed out we never saw a play in which the injury could've occurred.
"This left shoulder surgery will be a non-issue, even if it's significant," Chao saide before comparing the Cowboys QB situation to those around the NFL.
"Remember, Trevor Lawrence had offseason [on his] left non-throwing shoulder. [He needed] labrum repair surgery before his rookie season with the Jaguars. Baker Mayfield dislocated his shoulder […] a bigger surgery than Dak and will make it for this season."
If anything, one thing we've learned about Dak Prescott in the last couple of years is that he can suffer from injuries. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's the norm in such a physical league. It's just that after missing zero games in his first four years with the Cowboys, durability was one of Dak's biggest assets.
But are Prescott's recent injuries at all linked? Dr. Chao doesn't think so, except for the fact that "he likes to extend plays."
The Dallas Cowboys are likely not losing sleep over Dak's surgery and should be expecting him back at full strength once the team takes the practice field again.
Featured image via Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
