Leaner Dak glad offseason not devoted to rehab

FRISCO, Texas — A 12 months in the past, Dak Prescott was not totally cleared to participate within the Dallas Cowboys’ minicamp as he labored his manner again from a compound fracture and dislocation of his proper ankle.

Now?

“I believe I am so, a lot additional alongside than I used to be final 12 months right now,” Prescott mentioned. “I imply simply with the ability to get the group reps, with the ability to transfer extra, deal with my complete physique and simply deal with every thing and never simply my leg is a large distinction.”

Whereas he weighs the identical as final 12 months, 228 kilos, Prescott mentioned he’s as lean as he has ever been.

“Individuals inform me that [he looks leaner], I say thanks,” Prescott mentioned. “It is a product of engaged on every thing and never simply on my leg. Whether or not it’s weight-reduction plan or no matter, simply targeted on each manner I can get higher.”

At Mississippi State, he joked he was a “meathead,” and had necessary meals at Taco Bell and McDonald’s in the course of the week. Whereas he has not completely reduce out quick meals, he has altered his weight-reduction plan the previous two years.

“Simply coaching somewhat bit totally different, doing much more rotational issues that I believe dropped a number of the child fats, I assume, off,” Prescott mentioned.

That is the primary full offseason Prescott has had with Mike McCarthy as coach. In 2020, this system was in a digital format due to the coronavirus pandemic. Final 12 months, Prescott was rehabbing.

“It has been big for everyone,” McCarthy mentioned. “So I believe all of the little issues that we do, significantly the conferences, within the walkthroughs, they’re vital clearly however only for him to don’t have any limits has been excellent. And I believe you possibly can clearly see it in the best way he is shifting this 12 months along with his physique. He is clearly totally different than he was final 12 months. He is had a heckuva offseason.”

Prescott mentioned the ankle damage didn’t trigger him to be hesitant to run. He had 48 carries for 146 yards final season. In a full 2019 season, he had 52 carries for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He mentioned he has discovered a stability of threat vs. reward.

“And simply understanding that a few of these are referred to as, why are they referred to as?” Prescott mentioned. “To go get the primary down and get that, get some yards and get out of bounds. And simply know significance of every thing. The coach is not going to name that for me to attempt to go run individuals over and stiff arm. Being sensible and understanding that me being out there is the most effective for me.”

Does he anticipate extra designed runs this season?

“I anticipate to have about 20 carries a recreation,” he joked.

The one draw back to the Cowboys’ offseason program to date has been restricted work Prescott has had with a few of his confirmed receivers. Michael Gallup is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Free-agent pickup James Washington didn’t participate within the organized group actions or minicamp as he offers with a leg difficulty. CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown haven’t practiced the previous two weeks.

However Prescott mentioned the plan is to get collectively earlier than the Cowboys begin coaching camp in Oxnard, California, in late July both at his yard turf discipline or some place else.

“We’ll ensure that we get on the market just a few occasions and make up that chemistry, get a few of these routes, get a few of these issues we might not really feel snug on,” Prescott mentioned. “CeeDee’s a man that we have been working. We have labored all the best way up thus far so he is not essentially the one I am speaking about. However James and a few of these different guys, we’ll make it a degree to get some additional time in.”