The Dallas Cowboys’ 2020 season has been nothing short of a disappointment based on record. But now it's a disappointing season for an entirely different reason. Quarterback Dak Prescott has suffered an ankle injury that, according to Cowboys reporter Michael Gehlken, is a right ankle compound fracture.

Leading the New York Giants by one point in the third quarter of the game, Prescott kept the ball on a play and ran to try and make a play. Prescott was tackled and immediately reached for his foot. A visibly emotional Prescott was later carted off the field with his foot in an air cast, although he was later photographed by his brother, Tad, in much better spirits. 

As can be seen in the video below, Prescott’s ankle appeared to be injured badly and he was emotional when being carted off the field. No official update has been given but many feared a broken ankle for Prescott. Prescott went immediately to a local hospital and will have ankle surgery tonight, according to reports from ESPN and the Dallas Morning News. The NFL community was quick to reach out and express support for Prescott.

Prescott was the Cowboys’ fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State in the 2016 NFL Draft. He immediately started as a rookie after then-quarterback Tony Romo suffered an injury that sidelined him. Through the first four years of his NFL career, Prescott has been putting the league on notice.

Prescott has thrown for 3,300 yards or more in each of his four NFL seasons coming into 2020 and came of a career year in 2019. Prescott threw for a career-high in yards (4,902) and touchdowns (30) last year, leading to quite a summer of contract negotiations. The Cowboys and Prescott were unable to reach an agreement on an extension, leading to him being franchise tagged by the team. The two parties are expected to restart contract talks next summer.

Thoughts immediately turned to Prescott's contract situation after the highly-publicized franchise tag in the offseason. Prescott agreed to play on a $31.4 million franchise tag this season, and signed his tender June 22, with a bet on himself before a longterm deal.  

“I’m very optimistic,” Prescott said earlier this month about his contract. “That’s business, and there’s all kind of avenues in business of why it might not get worked out. I’m very confident that I’ll be a Cowboy, and as I’ve said before, I plan to be a Cowboy for the rest of my career. So there’s no worries when it goes into that. There’s no thoughts that I allow to distract me. This is the place to be.

"As I talk about the team and how exciting this offense can be with the new coaching staff, how great this defense is going to be, and this team, in general. This is the place to be, and I’m excited to be a Cowboy more importantly.”

Prescott's 2020 season, although rocky with wins and losses, was electric statistically with 1,690 yards and nine touchdowns in his first four games. Dallas now turns to backup quarterback Andy Dalton, who signed with the franchise in the offseason after the Bengals released him in favor of Joe Burrow. Prescott had 166 yards, an interception and a receiving touchdown via trick play at the time of his injury. Running back Ezekiel Elliott scored a 12-yard rushing touchdown two plays after Prescott left the game with injury.