The Dallas Cowboys returned to practice Thursday for the first time since defensive end Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away last week.
For quarterback Dak Prescott, getting back on the field after eight days provided exactly what coach Brian Schottenheimer predicted it would.
Dak Prescott follows Brian Schottenheimer's advice during practice
Schottenheimer told his team earlier in the week that returning to practice would affect everyone differently.
"Some guys are going to get out on the field, and it's going to hurt," Prescott said about his coach via Jon Machota. "Some guys are going to get out there, and it's going to be the best medicine for them."
Not surprisingly, Prescott fell into the latter category. The signal-caller explained that dealing with loss through football has always been his coping mechanism. Getting back out there and handing the ball off meant sprinting an extra 10 yards afterward.
He added, "Making sure I'm doing it hard. Marshawn went through my mind a few times at practice today. I just countered that with running harder after a play, or trying to do something to better this team to show that."
Prescott is probably the only one in the Cowboys group who feels grief for losing Kneeland intimately since he also lost his older brother Jace to suicide in 2020.
"Having dealt with loss, that is the best medicine for me," he said. So, he "felt good" during Thursday's practice.
He added, "It was a great practice. Good energy. Beautiful weather. We're not forgetting, but we're moving forward and carrying on the light."
Kneeland, 24, was found dead on November 7 following a police chase hours earlier. Just days before his death, he scored his only NFL touchdown, recovering a blocked punt against Arizona.
He was reportedly dealing with a mental illness, according to his girlfriend Catalina Mancera, who is currently pregnant with the late Cowboys star's child.
The Cowboys wore Kneeland on their minds and will carry him on their helmets the rest of the season. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa also called the return to practice helpful and admittedthat the locker room is now on a mission and playing with a purposein honor ofg Marshawn.
Dallas heads to Sin City on Monday night to face the Raiders, looking to honor its fallen teammate with a complete performance. The offense has the talent to keep the Cowboys competitive, but concerns along the front seven could lead to another difficult outing. For now, Cowboy Nation will hope for a better result under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
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