The Dallas Cowboys return to the field Saturday for the first time since January, opening their 2026 preseason against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
The 30-year-old has not appeared in a preseason game since the prior decade, making his absence against Seattle consistent with recent history and the team’s strategy. He enters the 2026 preseason without any reported lingering issues, but the Cowboys appear unwilling to take unnecessary chances with their most important player. The Cowboys are scheduled to open their regular-season campaign on Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants on September 13, with the team clearly prioritizing Prescott’s health and readiness for that game rather than risking him in the preseason.
Players placed in the A+ category are not expected to take any snaps, and Prescott would appear to be an obvious candidate for that group given his importance to the team. The decision also follows Prescott’s long-standing approach to preseason football. The setback kept him out for the final couple of months of that campaign and required a lengthy recovery before he was able to return to normal movement. Prescott eventually put those concerns behind him and completed a healthy season.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer previously explained during training camp that Dallas has divided its roster into four groups to determine how much preseason action each player will receive across the three exhibition games. That practice could provide one of the few opportunities for fans to see Prescott compete against another team’s defense before the regular season begins.
