Week 1 of the 2022 NFL couldn't have gone worse for the Dallas Cowboys. Not only did America's Team take sole possession of last place in the NFC East, but they also lost starting quarterback Dak Prescott for a considerable period of time.

Prescott suffered a thumb injury on his throwing hand in Sunday night's season-opening 19-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prescott will undergo surgery to repair the injury that is expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks, ESPN reports.

The Cowboys will have a better idea of Prescott's timeline after the surgery is completed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If the initial prognosis for Prescott's recovery is correct, the quarterback might miss the next seven games.

Dallas has a bye in Week 9 and returns to the field for a Week 10 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

"It's very disappointing," Prescott told reporters after the loss. "But injuries happen. You can't necessarily control it. It's just unfortunate, obviously going to miss some time, not be there for my team. That's what hurts more than anything, especially after the start we just put out there.

"Wanting to be able to respond and not necessarily having that opportunity for several weeks. Yeah, it's unfortunate, but I'll do what I've always done any time adversity comes. Take it on headfirst, give it my best, and I'm sure I'll come out of this thing better."

Before Prescott fractured his thumb on Shaquil Barrett's helmet in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys' offense looked vastly different from the unit that led the league in points scored and total yards a season ago. Prescott only completed 14 of his 29 attempts for 134 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

Prescott didn't get much help from a receiving corps that entered Week 1 with a lot of question marks. Wide receivers Michael Gallup and James Washington are out with injuries. No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb only had two receptions for 29 yards.

Cooper Rush is the Cowboys backup quarterback. Dallas won the only game that Rush started last season. Rush has attempted only 63 passes since signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

The injury to Prescott could severely hurt the Cowboys' chances of getting back to the playoffs.

Dallas will face NFC rivals the New York Giants, Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles over the next five weeks.

The Giants, Commanders and Eagles all won their season openers. Philadelphia entered Week 1 as the favorite to win the NFC East.

The Cowboys are scheduled to host the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys has his hand examined by team surgeon Dan Cooper during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers