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Injury Rounds

Dak Prescott | Right thumb fracture | Injured reserve (expected)

Prescott injured his throwing hand after contacting a defender's hand on a follow-through. Medical staff appeared to be evaluating his thumb on the sideline, taking him into the locker room for imaging.

Expect further updates during post-game interviews and throughout the day on Monday.

Sunday update: X-rays confirmed a fracture at the base of Prescott's right thumb. He will have surgery on Monday. Early recovery estimates range from 6-8 weeks. Expect Prescott to be moved to injured reserve this week.

Monday update: Mike McCarthy confirmed Prescott will have surgery Monday afternoon and told reporters the recovery timetable would be better understood after the procedure.

Even though the fracture may be considered stable sooner than 6-8 weeks, Prescott will need time to regain grip strength and range of motion needed for NFL-caliber accuracy and velocity. It will be tough for him to recover and return before the Cowboys' Week 9 bye.

Elijah Mitchell | Right MCL sprain | Week-to-week | Doubtful Week 2

Mitchell took a direct blow to the outside of his right knee and did not return.

Video of the injury is consistent with an MCL sprain, but it's possible Mitchell suffered additional damage to the meniscus or cartilage of the knee joint. It's unlikely the ACL is affected, but further testing may be needed to confirm.

Recovery from an isolated MCL sprain is variable. The initial timetable will depend on the severity of the sprain. Low-grade sprains can be rehabbed in 1-2 weeks, mid-grade sprains often take 3-4+ weeks of rehab, and high-grade sprains may require surgery and a long-term absence. Video suggests Mitchell's injury is mid-grade or higher. Any associated damage could lengthen the recovery timetable.

Mitchell will have an MRI on Monday. I'll update when additional details are reported.

Monday update: Adam Schefter confirmed Mitchell's injury as an MCL sprain this afternoon. Schefter's tweet did not mention any associated injuries or need for surgery but reported a timetable of "about two months."

A complete tear of a ligament like the MCL generally needs six weeks or more to scar and begin remodeling. Eight weeks is within the range of possible outcomes for a high-grade MCL sprain but there may be additional yet-to-be-reported damage (i.e. bone bruise, cartilage injury, meniscus).

Expect Mitchell to be moved to injured reserve by the end of the week. We may not learn more about his recovery timetable until October. Today's reporting means it's unlikely Mitchell will return before San Francisco's Week 9 bye.

Najee Harris | Left Lisfranc sprain | Day-to-day | Questionable Week 2

Harris had his left leg bent back underneath his body during a second-half tackle and did not return. He reportedly took off his shoe and pointed to his foot. Harris left the locker room with a protective boot on his left foot.

Mike Giardi of NFL Network tweeted Harris' injury is "not considered a big deal" after Pittsburgh's post-game press conference. Mike Tomlin did not provide details on the injury.

Video did not provide a clear view of the injury. The Steelers' designation of a foot injury makes a high ankle sprain unlikely. Harris battled a Lisfranc sprain during training camp, but it's unknown which foot was injured. Video doesn't show obvious evidence of a Lisfranc aggravation.

Expect Harris to have an MRI Monday morning. I'll update with any reports after tomorrow's imaging.