It will be a meaningless Week 18 game for the Cowboys on Sunday against the Giants, which leaves open the possibility that the team could pick and choose which starters they’d like to see on the field, and which they’d prefer to protect themselves on the bench. At age 32, and with all 16 games started in his 2025 rearview mirror, it might make sense for quarterback Dak Prescott to be among those sitting out.
But that’s not happening. Prescott has been vocal about wanting to start the game, especially after last season was cut short by a hamstring problem and also because he is so clearly the team’s leader and wants to set a standard. Coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed that Prescott will, indeed, start on Sunday.
As far as how long Prescott will play, though–that’s another matter.
Dak Prescott Will Start for the Cowboys
Schottenheimer was asked about the Cowboys star QB in his press conference this week. The goal is to win the game and pull the Cowboys back to .500 for the season and as long as Prescott is the best option for that, Schottenheimer said, he will be on the field.
He left open the possibility that, if the game becomes a blowout for either team, that will change.
“Dak will start the game. Dak will certainly play. We’re playing to win the game,” Schottenheimer said. “I talked to the team today, just about the importance of us trying to finish strong and getting to 8-8-1. As we go about building a championship football team, we’re learning that you have to dominate your division and a chance to go 5-1 in the division would be really cool for us to have that.
“But again, we’re gonna play the game and see how the game goes, and I certainly can adjust my thinking if I deem it fit and reasonable to do.”
GettyHead coach Brian Schottenheimer of the Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys Wasted an Excellent Year
One of the disappointments of the 2025 season was that, even as he is getting well into his 30s, Prescott put forth one of his best seasons, one of the best seasons for a quarterback in team history. He took over the all-time lead in Cowboys history in passing yardage and threw for 4,482 yards, most in the league. He leads the NFL in attempts (589) and completions (397).
Did the Cowboys waste a great Dak Prescott season?
“I don’t know. He played very well, he really did. He had a really good year,” Schottenheimer said. “And we did not win enough games. He certainly did not play perfect, I did not call a perfect season. We’ve had our ups and downs—the only reason it is a missed opportunity is because we did not get into the playoffs and there are a lot of reasons for that. I think Dak still has a ton of great football in him.”
Dak Prescott Has ‘A Number of Good years Left’
That last statement from Schottenheimer leads to a pretty relevant follow-up: How much great football does Prescott have left for the Cowboys? He is signed for two more seasons, at $74 million for next year and $68 million in 2027.
If there’s anything we have learned about cerebral quarterbacks like Prescott, though, it’s that he could be effective into his 40s.
“I see a guy who keeps getting better and better. Some of the things we did from a footwork training stuff, we have talked about that throughout the year, I thought that he has really bought into that and excelled at that stuff,” Schottenheimer said.
“Anymore, these quarterbacks, I am amazed, you watch what (Tom)Brady did—I am not saying he is going to play until he is 48 or whatever Tom was—but you can watch Aaron Rodgers play, you know? As their brains develop and they just continue to learn, they see so much. I think you’re seeing quarterbacks playing more and more. I think he has a number of good years left.”
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