Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is still seeing doctors in hopes of avoiding season-ending hamstring surgery

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will see another specialist on Monday before deciding whether to undergo season-ending surgery on his injured hamstring, sources said.

People familiar with Prescott’s prognosis say surgery is the most likely outcome. But Prescott wants to play, sources say, and he is determined to explore all options before foregoing a return this season. He has been seeing doctors and getting scans as the decision-making process continues.

NFL Network’s Jane Slater first reported last week that Prescott’s injury was a partial hamstring tendon tear, meaning the thigh muscle has partially separated from the bone. It’s a serious injury that team officials have publicly acknowledged will likely sideline Prescott for a month or more. And the team tends to play it safe with the NFL’s highest-paid player.

The team did not place Prescott on injured reserve on Saturday as expected. That leaves open the long-term possibility that Prescott misses fewer than four games; it also means that if Prescott lands on IR this week, he will miss at least five games now and won’t return until Dec. 15 against the Panthers at the earliest.

The question at this point would be whether there is enough at stake for the Cowboys for Prescott to return. They enter today’s crucial home game against the Eagles at 3-5, four games behind first-place Washington and three games behind the final NFC wildcard spot.

Prescott’s future is beyond doubt. He and the Cowboys agreed to a record-breaking four-year, $240 million extension just hours before the Sept. 8 opener that includes $231 million guaranteed and signs him through 2028.

For now, they’re rolling with veteran backup Cooper Rush, who is scheduled to start today against Philadelphia with former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance. They then host the Texans in a Monday night game on November 18th, followed by a divisional game on the road at Washington and another at home on Thanksgiving against the Giants.