These Dak Prescott Injury Leaks Feel Like an Excuse for Jason Garrett's Performance

The NFC East division hangs in the balance this Sunday, as the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are facing off for pole position. If the Cowboys win, they clinch the division. If the Eagles emerge victorious, however, the NFC East crown is determined in Week 17.

Yet, what's clouding the big game is the status of quarterback Dak Prescott, who is dealing with a new shoulder injury on top of a fractured index finger. But whatever the prognosis turns out to be, it certainly seems like a readymade excuse for head coach Jason Garrett if Big D ends up falling short.

Prescott's shoulder ailment emerged on Wednesday. He underwent an MRI that came back clean, but Garrett insisted that the shoulder was sore, adding that it wasn't fully functional.

Even with the injury, Prescott has expressed that he will be good to go for the pivotal matchup.

Let's be real here, we've heard more about Prescott's shoulder than New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's shoulder. In Foxborough, Brady's name was placed on the injury report, yet nothing comes of it. Why? Because he's certain to play in the upcoming week.

But with the Boys being the perpetual motion media machine that they are, we're hearing about Dak's condition nonstop. If he was to perform poorly on Sunday, what was Garrett supposed to do? His quarterback was injured! Time for a contract extension!

Is Garrett pushing this narrative to try and fake out the Eagles? To have them expect a less-than-100% Dak to take the field?

No matter the case, Jason Garrett is coaching for his livelihood in Dallas. If he fails to come within plausible striking distance of putting a new Lombardi Trophy on Jerry Jones' desk, he will likely be handed his walking papers.

For his sake, he has no choice but to beat the Eagles. No excuses, big man.