ATLANTA – Dak Prescott faced a tough situation on Sunday.

The Dallas Cowboys experienced their third straight defeat, and to make matters worse, Prescott injured his right hamstring during the second half, forcing him to leave the game.

The injury happened while Prescott was scrambling late in the third quarter; he wasn’t certain if it occurred while running or during a tackle. He was then substituted by Cooper Rush in the final quarter of the Cowboys’ 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

After the injury, Prescott remained in the game for a couple more plays and was seen in discomfort while completing a 10-yard pass to Jalen Brooks just before his last play. He felt a strange pain after getting up following his scramble and wanted to continue playing, but the Cowboys’ medical staff ultimately ruled him out after evaluating his condition.

“I asked, ‘Could I make it worse?’ ” Prescott shared. “They told me I wouldn’t be able to protect myself out there.”

He is scheduled to undergo an MRI to assess the severity of his injury but remains optimistic that he will be ready for next Sunday’s match against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium.

“I’m confident I’ll be out there next week,” said Prescott, who successfully made 18 of 24 passes for 133 yards, including one touchdown and no interceptions during the game.

“I tend to heal quickly and recover fast from injuries, so I’m counting on that. We’ll see what the MRI reveals. It will take a lot for me not to play.”

After the postgame press conference, Prescott appeared to walk normally as he exited the stage and returned to the locker room. He acknowledged that a clearer understanding of his condition will come throughout the week, especially regarding his practice participation.

Prescott’s agility is vital given the team’s struggling offensive line. On Sunday, he was sacked three times and made three scrambles for a total of 30 yards, including an impressive 18-yard run.

Leaving the field was “extremely hard,” said Prescott.

“I knew how much we needed this victory,” he added. “I just wanted to get out there and compete.”

This story has been updated with new information.