Dak Prescott Thanks Alex Smith For Being An Inspiration In His Journey Back To The Field

Dak Prescott is now a very wealthy man. Earlier this week, the former fourth-round pick inked a four-year, $160 million extension ($126 million guaranteed) with the Dallas Cowboys. That makes him the second highest-paid quarterback in the league.

It's hard to believe that Prescott was laying on the ground in excruciating pain only five months ago. After suffering a compound fracture and dislocated ankle against the New York Giants on Oct. 11, 2020, many wondered what the future would look like for the Mississippi State product.

Fast forward to today, and there are still no guarantees regarding his on-field play. We do know two things, however: 1) things are trending in the right direction and 2) Prescott secured the bag, so he's at least good on that front.

In his road to recovery, Prescott has had the perfect role model, someone who suffered an even more gruesome injury a few years ago, yet was still out there winning the league's Comeback Player of the Year award. That person is, of course, Alex Smith.

Prescott recognizes the difficulty in Smith's fight back to the field. During his press conference on Wednesday, he even pointed out that Smith was an inspiration in his journey back.

"I have to thank, Alex Smith," Prescott said. "Because at that moment, when you're sitting there, and you have an injury like that or you come out of surgery, to see somebody who has already done it and did it actually in worse circumstances, that allowed my mind just to go to straight, 'Hey, I can do this. I'm gonna beat this. It's just a matter of time, when are the doctors are saying. But I'm gonna beat this.'

"So I have to thank Alex, for somebody who's overcome that and won Comeback Player of the Year, and congrats to him."

It was an awesome moment realizing how many athletes Smith has inspired with his determination to get back on the field. He achieved what many said was impossible, and now others can share in a similar hope as well.

Good for Smith, and good for Prescott for pointing it out.

Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.