Cowboys' Micah Parsons set for MRI after injuring ankle in win

ByTODD ARCHER
September 27, 2024, 1:19 AM

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Micah Parsons will undergo an MRI on his left ankle Friday after leaving because of an injury with 3:30 left to play in the Dallas Cowboys' 20-15 win over the New York Giants.

"Right now, I just iced it," Parsons said, sitting at his locker with his left ankle taped. "I know very little. I've got an MRI [Friday], and I'm going to try to get back next week."

Parsons said X-rays taken inside MetLife Stadium were negative. DeMarcus Lawrence suffered a right foot injury in the third quarter and also did not return, but after the game he said he was OK and his injury was not related to foot surgeries he has need earlier in his career. He will also undergo an MRI on Friday.

Parsons was injured rushing the passer from the middle of the Giants' line. He was engaged with center John Michael Schmitz Jr. when guard Greg Van Roten fell on to the back of Parsons leg. He was tended to by the medical staff before limping to the sideline. Eventually, he was taken off by a cart to get X-rays.

After the game, he took a golf cart to the team bus.

"He's a helluva player. Big-time playmaker," quarterback Dak Prescott said. "I'm not watching a lot, but [he] made a huge run stop right there on one of those last possessions. And then honestly, I'm just hoping it's not anything serious. There's not a lot of doubts or negative thoughts that go through my head, so, yeah, I didn't even want to think anything major. Hoping that my thoughts are right and it's something small. He looked in good spirits, so I'm in good spirits. We're in good spirits."

The Cowboys were in good spirits in general because of how they entered Thursday's game. They lost back-to-back home games to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens in which the defense gave up a combined 464 rushing yards.

The Giants had only 26 yards on 24 carries, but  Daniel Jones threw for 281 yards and rookie receiver Malik Nabers had 115 yards on 12 catches before leaving the game because of a concussion.

Prescott threw two first-half touchdown passes -- one to CeeDee Lamb and the other to  Rico Dowdle -- and  Brandon Aubrey made two of three field goal attempts, including a 60-yarder for the second straight game.

"Winning is always a great thing, especially on the road," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Road wins are the best. Division games, you can add another layer to it. So, yeah, we feel great about what we accomplished, but I think it's the fourth week in a row we realize we have a lot of work to do."

The Cowboys will have a 10-day break before taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 6, which could aid in Parsons' recovery depending on the diagnosis.

For Prescott, it was his 13th straight win against the Giants, tying for the second-longest winning streak by a quarterback against an opponent.

But he knows there is a big difference between 2-2 and 1-3.

"Huge, especially when you compare it to the alternative. What that would have been like, it was huge," Prescott said, adding, "Just allows to build momentum. Played on a bunch of different teams and some that when you got going, it just gets hot. And that's what we're looking to do. That's what it's about in this league is getting hot at the right time, building. That why I said it's about the process. Trusting the process no matter the results."