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Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott leaves practice with strained muscle in throwing arm

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed the final 11 games of 2020 with a fractured ankle, left practice Wednesday due to soreness in his throwing arm.

Prescott was diagnosed with a muscle strain in his right shoulder after undergoing an MRI exam.

There is no timetable on when he returns to practice. The Cowboys say he will be treated and evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

Prescott, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract in March, termed the situation precautionary and says he will be fine.

“I felt some soreness when making certain throws today, and I really just decided not to push things too far,” he said. “Better to be cautious and smart about it. I don’t see this as any kind of serious setback. We’ll treat it on a daily basis, and I’ll be fine.”

Prescott, who had no issues through the first four practices of training camp, looked fine to start practice on Wednesday.

But he stopped during 1-on-1 drills with the receivers and defensive backs. He had an extended conversation with head athletic trainer Jim Maurer as they looked as his right arm.

Prescott stayed on the field through the next two drills as backup Garrett Gilbert worked with the first team offense in 7-on-7 drills.

When the Cowboys began team drills, Prescott trotted off the field and into the locker room. The situation didn’t appear serious or urgent as no medical personnel left the field with Prescott.

It all came as a surprise to Gilbert.

“Well, you know, we were throwing one-on-ones and so it was just kind of like, ‘hey hop in there,’” Gilbert said. “And then [offensive coordinator] Kellen [Moore] said, ‘Hey you’re up. You got the team stuff.’ Kind of a combination of Dak was throwing and then he decided not to push it like he said. And then Kell said, ‘all right let’s roll.’”

The injury dampens a sizzling start to camp for Prescott, who has completed 50 of 78 passes through the team’s first four practices.

He has had no issues with the surgically repaired right ankle.

Prescott is likely the victim of a heavy workload.

He didn’t participate in team drills during organized team activities and minicamp as the Cowboys were cautious in his return.

He opened training camp with no limitations and got the most work on consecutive days since training before the 2020 season.

Now, he is day-to-day, making him highly doubtful to play in the preseason opener in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game Aug. 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.