Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott to have surgery on right thumb, out indefinitely

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will need surgery on his right thumb and is out indefinitely, owner Jerry Jones said after Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Prescott jogged to the locker room late in the fourth quarter to get his right hand examined after he hit the hand of Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaq Barrett. It was announced that he was questionable to return with a little more than three minutes remaining, but the Cowboys' night was over even before that.

Prescott, who is now 2-5 in season openers in his career, completed 14 of 29 passes for 134 yards and was intercepted once and sacked twice while the Cowboys were held without a touchdown in a season opener for the first time since 2001.

The last time the Cowboys scored fewer than 6 points in a season opener was Sept. 10, 1989, a 28-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints, which was the first game of Jerry Jones' tenure as owner and general manager and the debut of Troy Aikman and Jimmy Johnson.

It was the end of a strange week for Prescott, who was limited in last Thursday's practice because of a sore ankle that he blamed on a new pair of cleats. Prescott kept insisting he was fine and it would not be an issue against the Buccaneers after going through full workouts on Friday and Saturday.

Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in the fifth game of the 2020 season against the New York Giants. He returned to start 16 games last season, setting a Cowboys' single-season record with 37 touchdown passes. He missed one start with a calf strain.

On the opening drive Sunday, Prescott completed passes to four different receivers as the Cowboys moved 54 yards on 14 plays to take a 3-0 lead after a