Dak Prescott drops major hamstring injury update after Cowboys' playoff hopes end in Week 16

Dak Prescott's injury wasn't the sole reason, but it contributed a lot to the early elimination of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2024 season. Before the team entered the field during Week 16's Sunday Night Football, they were already eliminated from contention following a win by the Washington Commanders.

Prescott was lost midway through the season with a hamstring problem. It was first believed that he would miss a couple of weeks, but it quickly emerged that he needed surgery and would not play in 2024. At the time, the Cowboys were already struggling, and even after winning in Week 16, they have a 7-8 record.

If next season can't come soon enough for their fans, they can at least rest assured that Prescott will be fully healthy. He spoke to NBC's reporter Melissa Stark during the SNF game and guaranteed that, when the offseason workouts start in April, he will be ready:

He ended the 2024 season with 64.7% of completed passes, 1,978 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Dallas had a 3-5 record during the games he was the starter.

Dak Prescott: the highest-paid player in the entire NFL

Over the past decade, the amount of money paid to quarterbacks exploded through the roof. The numbers escalated every year, and it was no different with a bunch of contract extensions in 2024. However, the Cowboys' quarterback was the first to reach an impressive mark that might not be touched the next offseason.

He signed a four-year, $240 million deal on the first Sunday of the 2024 NFL season. That day, he led the Cowboys to a win against the Cleveland Browns, but he also became the highest-paid player in the entire NFL.

His average of $60 million per year earned him that distinction. He has a cap hit of $44.6 million in 2024, but this number will balloon to $89.89 million in 2025 due to void years added on the back of his previous contract. Not all fans agree with giving him this much money, but in today's NFL, it's impossible to have a good quarterback without breaking the bank.