FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott grew up rooting for the Dallas Cowboys in Louisiana. He suddenly finds himself in line to start their opener as a rookie quarterback with Tony Romo sidelined by yet another back injury.

Receiver Brice Butler believes the fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State pictured this years ago.

“He ends up getting drafted here. Now he’s the starting quarterback,” Butler said Sunday. “I don’t know if he thought it was going to happen this soon. But I’m pretty sure when he got here, he was like, I’m going to be the future of this franchise.

“He’s in a situation now where he’s the starter and basically that comment I just said is going to depend on how he plays. And I think he’s ready for it.”

The 23-year-old Prescott was the No. 3 quarterback for the Cowboys going into training camp before backup Kellen Moore broke his right ankle in practice.

Prescott was impressive enough in the first two preseason games to make owner and general manager Jerry Jones comfortable with him as Romo’s backup, rather than bringing in a veteran.

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After Romo broke a bone in his back on the third play of the third preseason game at Seattle, Jones is ready to roll with Prescott. Assuming the Cowboys do grab a veteran, it figures to be a backup for now. The current No. 2 is Jameill Showers, a second-year player who hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game.

“I don’t know if this stuff will ever hit me,” said Prescott, set to be the first rookie quarterback to start the opener for Dallas since Quincy Carter 15 years ago. “I feel like I belong here. This is where I’m supposed to be. I just come in every day with the right attitude.”

The Cowboys haven’t said how long Romo will be out following his fourth back injury in less than four years, but it’s likely to be the opener at the very least.

CHIEFS: Safety Eric Berry signed his franchise tender and reported to camp, though he is almost certain to miss Kansas City’s preseason finale against Green Bay this week.

COLTS: Free agent running back Stevan Ridley, who was cut by Detroit on Thursday, signed the Indianapolis.

FALCONS: Atlanta Falcons veteran free-agent safety Dashon Goldson.

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SUNDAY’S GAMES

VIKINGS 23, CHARGERS 10: Teddy Bridgewater was sharp in his return from a sore shoulder, completing 12 of 16 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown in the first half for Minnesota in the official unveiling of its new stadium.

TEXANS 34, CARDINALS 24: Brock Osweiler threw for 146 yards and a touchdown and Houston intercepted two of Carson Palmer’s passes in the Texans’ 34-24 exhibition victory over Arizona in Houston.

BENGALS 26, JAGUARS 21: Andy Dalton led the Cincinnati to two touchdowns in three possessions, earning him a little extra rest in a loss to the Jaguars in a preseason game in Jacksonville, Floria.


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