Within the Cowboys’ season-opening recreation in entrance of a raucous crowd at their AT&T Stadium in opposition to Tom Brady and the Bucs, Dallas’s 2022 season started with a stutter and a scare.

If the struggling offensive efficiency wasn’t sufficient to fret about — Dallas did not rating after opening the sport with discipline aim — a probably severe damage to Dak Prescott might have long-term repercussions.

Within the fourth quarter, as he tried to energy the offense and produce a comeback, Prescott’s throwing hand — his proper — linked with the palms of Bucs exterior linebacker Shaq Barrett throughout a cross try.

The 29-year-old’s discomfort was evident nearly instantly, and he jogged again to the locker room with an athletic coach.

Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones mentioned after the sport that Prescott will endure additional medical examinations however has sustained a fracture “behind the thumb” and can miss “a number of video games however not out for the 12 months.”

Prescott was seen sporting a brace throughout post-game media availability. He expressed his frustration on the damage however acknowledged it might have been a lot worse.

“I used to be advised it was a lot cleaner than it might have been,” Prescott mentioned. “It’s totally disappointing, however accidents occur. Cannot essentially management it. Simply unlucky. I am clearly going to overlook a while and never be there for my crew and that is what hurts greater than something, particularly after the beginning that we simply put on the market.”

Even with Prescott on the sphere, the Cowboys struggled to maneuver the ball in opposition to a stout Tampa Bay protection.

The offense might solely put up 244 whole yards with Prescott going 14-of-29 for 134 yards with an interception and getting sacked twice. Again-up quarterback Cooper Rush completed the sport and did not have rather more success.

After a severe ankle damage which noticed him miss many of the 2020 season, Prescott hoped for a wholesome 2022, however sounded optimistic afterwards regardless of the damage.

“Clearly, simply not what you need to hear, nevertheless it’s not the worst factor that is occurred to me,” Prescott mentioned. “It is simply one other bump within the street and I will hold transferring ahead. I will do every little thing that I can management to get myself again, to get myself higher, assist this crew and be the most effective that I can on this function.”

Brady grinding it out

It wasn’t essentially the most classic Brady efficiency, nevertheless it was sufficient for the Bucs.

The 45-year-old, seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner threw for 212 yards, in addition to a landing and an interception within the defense-heavy recreation.

It was operating again Leonard Fournette who was the driving power on offense for the Bucs, operating for 127 yards on 21 carries.

“We had been making an attempt to take what they gave us,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles mentioned after the sport.

“They gave us some issues up entrance and Lenny (Fournette) did a heck of a job operating exhausting and bodily and discovering the opening. I assumed the offensive line did an amazing job blocking. It was a complete crew effort tonight.”

The Bucs’ sturdy protection stored the Cowboys offense in examine, proscribing Dallas to fewer to 6 factors in a season opener for the primary time since 1989.

The victory improves Brady’s private document in opposition to the Cowboys to 7-0 and offers the 2020 Tremendous Bowl winners the right begin to a brand new season.

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