This 2020 Cowboys season has turned into a bad news cycle.
Yet, Stephen Jones, the Cowboys executive vice president, provided the independent news media with good news Monday afternoon when he said starting quarterback Dak Prescott is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a compound fracture and dislocated right ankle.
Prescott suffered the season-ending injury Oct. 11 and Jones said it's a four-month injury with the major concern of infection bothering the recovering process. With no infections occurring, Prescott should be ready for the 2021 season.
"So yes, he's been able to avoid any setbacks and if anything he's ahead of schedule which shouldn't be surprising the way he goes after any challenge," Jones said. "It's full speed ahead with Dak and he's done a great job at this point."
The other item for business concerns Prescott's contract, or lack of one for the 2021 season. Jones wasn't going to discuss that subject in-depth given the positive news he revealed to reporters about Prescott in a season of bad news.
The quarterback situation for the Cowboys has seen them start four different quarterbacks this season. Jones gave the Cowboys faithful something to be happy about concerning the position: Prescott is recovering well and the quarterback situation might be settling down.
There were encouraging signs about backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert's performance against the Steelers. In his first NFL start, Gilbert completed 21 of 38 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Gilbert's lone pick led to a field goal by the Steelers but considering he joined the team less than a month ago, it's a good chance he'll hang around when Andy Dalton returns from his concussion and COVID-19 issues.
"I thought he was just outstanding," Jones said of Gilbert. "He exceeded all expectations and gave us a chance to win. He had a tough play there, trying to make a play for us. I think he was going to throw it away. Overall, he gave us every opportunity to have success and win the game. He really played well."
When Dalton returns, and Cowboys officials still don't know when, he will take over as the starter. Dalton has 135 starts on his resume and it's assumed he gives the Cowboys the best opportunities to win on Sundays.
Yet, in this season of bad news, Cowboys had to cancel a scheduled Wednesday practice due to increased COVID-19 protocols because a Steelers player tested positive for the virus, it would appear this team has two or three more victories in them.
Of course, the NFC East is a disaster, so the three remaining division games allow the Cowboys to dream of increasing their win total and pushing them farther down the draft order. It's quite possible the Cowboys will be underdogs in a majority of their remaining games. If the Cowboys lose a few more games, it could make sense to give Gilbert at least one or two starts late in the season to evaluate if he's worth keeping around in 2021.
"We've got to take each week, week to week," Jones said. "Certainly, Dalton has got to pass all of the protocols, whether it's concussion or virus to get himself ready to go, coming off the bye week. If he's able to do that he'll be our quarterback. We'll take each week from there."
