Getty Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott literally and figuratively took a step forward Friday in his recovery from season-ending ankle surgery.
For the first time since his October 11 right ankle compound fracture and dislocation, the Dallas Cowboys‘ franchise quarterback was on hand for a team practice.
In a video posted to Twitter, Prescott can be seen using a crutch as he’s approached by running back and close personal friend Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott proceeds to playfully mock Prescott’s impacted gait, to which the two-time Pro Bowl passer emphatically showed he can walk normally without assistance.
Name a better friendship, we’ll wait.
Zeke: ‘It’s Good Every Day to See Him’
Fifty-four days after undergoing reparative surgery, Prescott’s return to the Ford Center was brief but motivating for the 3-8 Cowboys as they readied for Tuesday’s road showdown against the Baltimore Ravens. He provided his trademark spark even on one leg, high-fiving the QBs as they hit the field and fist-bumping rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, per the Dallas Morning News.
“It’s good every day to see him,” Elliott said, via beat reporter Brianna Dix. “He’s always in great spirits; doing whatever he can to uplift his team, although that’s very limited just because of the circumstances. Dak’s been great.”
ALL the latest Dallas Cowboys news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Cowboys newsletter here!
Sign up for the Heavy on Cowboys Newsletter!
Jerry Responds to Dak’s ‘Small Victories’ Remark
Prescott recently was prompted to lend his advice to rookie players grinding through their first season in the NFL. His message — relatably inspiring and passionate — centered around the “small victories” he’s achieved thus far in his post-surgical rehabilitation process, projected to span 4-6 months.
“Don’t take anything that you’re doing for granted,” he said on NFL.com’s Pepsi Rookie Roundtable, via the Cowboys’ official website. “No matter how big or how small it is, don’t take it for granted because it’s a blessing. I’ve been able to play every level of my career because the guy in front of me has gotten injured, so I know what it means to be ready and to stay ready in case a guy gets injured in front of you.
“But now to be that guy that’s injured for the first time in my career missing the rest of the season, it’s different. It’s tough. But for me, it’s about making and creating small victories. So each and every day when I wake up and I go in for rehab, it’s about, for me, seeing my leg or seeing my body do something that it didn’t do the day before or creating a feeling that I didn’t have before so I know that I’m continuing to get better.
“And at the end of the day, I know my team needs me. And I know they need me now for support, but they’ll need me again later. So it’s about helping them whichever way that I can and however I can. But it’s about being right mentally and then counting those small victories.”
Asked about the statement, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan in what may be perceived as a potential slight at the impending free-agent signal-caller: “You better be looking for the little nuances of victory because the big ones haven’t been there.”
READ NEXT: Cowboys Predicted to Select QB with No. 4 Overall Pick in 2021 Draft
Follow Zack Kelberman on Twitter: @KelbermanNFL