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March 11 (UPI) -- Dak Prescott declared himself as "healthy" and said he plans to get a Super Bowl parade for the Dallas Cowboys during his first news conference since signing a $160 million contract extension with the franchise. Prescott made the comments Wednesday in Frisco, Texas. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones joined Prescott at the news conference.
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The appearance marked the first time Prescott has conducted a news conference at the team facility since he sustained a season-ending ankle injury Oct. 11. Prescott did not commit to a return date this off-season, but said he will be ready for the 2021 campaign.
"I'm healthy," Prescott told reporters. "I have followed the doctor's orders the whole time. I'm getting close. I'll be ready when it matters."
Prescott agreed Monday to a four-year, $160 million contract extension. The pact features $126 million in guarantees.
The five-year veteran was off to a career-best season in 2020 until he sustained the injury. He had completed 68% of his throws for 1,856 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions in five games.
The Cowboys had a 2-3 record in those five games, finished 8-8 in 2019 and haven't made the playoffs since 2018. Despite Dallas' recent struggles, Prescott said he can lead the franchise to a championship.
"Obviously, that's my plan, is get a parade in Dallas," Prescott said. "As a competitor, you watch people celebrate, you watch people do what you want to do, and there's not too many more things that light a fire under you than somebody having what you want.
"You throw on there that I was holding my leg and didn't have a chance to be out there while guys were doing what was taken away from me.
"I'm just excited to get out there and show you what this team is going to do. The next big press conference we have is hopefully in another year after that big parade. So there you go."
Prescott and the Cowboys have had extension talks for the last two seasons. The Cowboys had Prescott play under the franchise tag in 2020, but Prescott said there was "never a doubt" in his mind that he "would be a Cowboy for life."
He also credited former Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith as an inspiration for his recovery from the ankle injury.
Smith's career looked like it could be over when he had 17 surgeries over two years to repair a broken leg. He returned to the field in 2020 and won Comeback Player of the Year.
Prescott -- a two-time Pro Bowl selection -- has completed 66% of his throws for 17,634 yards, 106 touchdowns and 40 interceptions in 69 career starts. He has a 42-27 record as a starter in the regular season and a 1-2 record in the postseason.
