NFL execs express wariness on how Dak Prescott’s showing in Cowboys-49ers game will affect him

On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Dallas Cowboys by a final score of 42-10. Dallas’ record dropped to 3-2 on the season with the loss.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott massively underperformed in the defeat. He finished the game with just 153 passing yards and threw three interceptions compared to only one touchdown. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, meanwhile, completed 17 of his 24 pass attempts and threw for four touchdowns and 252 yards.

NFL executives are reportedly wary of how Prescott’s underwhelming showing in Sunday’s loss against the 49ers will affect him moving forward.

“Hard to pay Dak after tonight,” one NFL executive told The Athletic.

Another executive had a bit of a different view.

“Don’t think this game by itself impacts Dak too much,” another executive said, “but it could start it down a path.”

Prescott was selected by the Cowboys with the No. 135 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft after spending four seasons playing college football at Mississippi State University. He threw for 3,400-plus yards and 27-plus touchdowns in each of his final two seasons as a member of the Bulldogs.

The 6-foot-2 quarterback was one of the better players at his position in the nation during his senior season with the Bulldogs, the 2015 season. He threw for 3,793 yards and 29 touchdowns in 13 games played with the Bulldogs.

Prescott has spent eight seasons in the NFL, all as a member of the Cowboys franchise. He totaled 2,860 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns across 12 appearances with Dallas during the 2022 regular season (12 starts). Also, his longest completed pass was for a whopping 68 yards.

The 30-year-old quarterback had difficulty taking care of the ball a season ago, however. He threw a league-high 15 interceptions during the regular season.

Turnover woes have followed Prescott into the 2023 regular season. He has already thrown four interceptions compared to five touchdowns in five games played with the Cowboys.

Here’s to hoping that Prescott will be able to put his poor performance against the undefeated 49ers on Sunday behind him.

After all, the Cowboys’ next opponent is a formidable one, as the Los Angeles Chargers are riding a two-game winning streak. The Cowboys will play the Chargers on the road on Oct. 16.