Naughty or nice: 2024 Dallas Cowboys

Nice: Contract extensions

Jones waited as long as he could but eventually gave in by signing quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to contract extensions. 

Lamb received a four-year, $136M extension on Aug. 26, four days after breaking camp in Oxnard, California, while Prescott signed a four-year, $240M extension just before the team’s first regular-season game on Sept. 8.

Both deals came months after Dallas exercised a $24M fifth-year option for linebacker Micah Parsons, locking up the team’s best three players for at least another season.

Naughty: Prescott’s hamstring

Unfortunately, the Cowboys didn’t get their money’s worth from Prescott after he injured his hamstring against the Falcons in Week 9. Technically speaking, the quarterback suffered a partial proximal hamstring tendon avulsion, which means one or more of his hamstring tendons tore away from the pelvis.

Prescott had surgery and is expected to undergo three to five months of rehab. He’ll likely be sidelined for most of the Cowboys’ offseason program but should be ready for the 2025 regular season.

Nice: Rico Dowdle

Rather than sign a free-agent running back to replace Tony Pollard, who signed with the Titans, Dallas penciled in Dowdle as the team’s lead back. After averaging 33.5 yards in his first four starts, the fourth-year running back now has 880 yards thanks to three straight 100-yard games over the past three weeks.

Naughty: Ezekiel Elliott’s return

Of course, the team also welcomed Elliott, the third-leading rusher in franchise history, back to the fold after watching him post career lows in yards (642), yards per carry (3.5) and touchdowns (3) as a Patriot in 2023.

This year has been even worse for the 29-year-old running back. Not only does he have just two touchdowns and 223 yards, he was also suspended for disciplinary reasons in Week 9. Not quite the homecoming the team was hoping for.

Nice: The Panthers game

Prior to last week’s 30-14 victory over Carolina, Dallas hadn’t beaten a team by double digits since a 33-17 win over the Browns on opening day. Unlike the Panthers game, the Cowboys had a full complement of starters that day, including Prescott.

Backup quarterback Cooper Rush took snaps last week, throwing a career-high three touchdowns with a season-best quarterback rating of 119.0. Rush will never be an NFL starter, but he’s helped Dallas win three of its last four games, matching Prescott’s win total for 2024.