Cowboys Tony Pollard: Ready For Payday; Ready For Training Camp?

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys using their franchise tag on Tony Pollard ahead of Tuesday's deadline spoke volumes.

About the running back's value to the team, to the tune of $10 million. And about Pollard's health.

In the wake of his cringe-worthy ankle and leg injury suffered in the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Pollard underwent surgery in mid-January. Though his left leg didn't suffer a gruesome clean break like Dak Prescott's or even Joe Theismann's infamous injury, it is a significant setback.

And one could argue that since his injury in 2021, Prescott hasn't been the same in terms of mobility, accuracy or overall performance. Pollard is 25, and the Cowboys are obviously convinced he can make a full recovery that won't rob him of the burst that propelled him to a career-high combined 1,378 yards, 12 touchdowns and his first Pro Bowl selection last season.

"I feel very confident that he can have the kind of recovery that won't minimize or potentially impact, negatively, how he plays," owner Jerry Jones said at last week's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

On the play late in the first half in San Francisco, Pollard suffered a broken fibula and severely sprained ankle when tackled at an awkward angle by 49ers' cornerback Jimmie Ward. The play ended Pollard's season and helped end the Cowboys' chances, but it seemingly will do little to dampen his earning potential or 2023-and-beyond performance.

"It seems like just a moment ago when I saw that tackle against San Francisco," Jones said. "I thought that was the turning point of the game for us. Not one play can make a game, but if missing a guy at a critical spot was gonna give you a picture of why you might want Tony Pollard — roll the clock back right there to see how things changed for us. "As everybody always knows, you can't go to one play, but that was the turning point, in my mind."

Pollard had a tightrope procedure to repair a high ankle sprain. His fibula should heal on its own without surgery or casting.

With an expect three-month recovery timetable, Pollard is expected to be ready for training camp in late July.

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