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Tom Brady didn't mince any words when asked about Dak Prescott. The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback has plenty of respect for Prescott, coming off a season-ending injury that rivals the severity of Brady's 13 years ago. 

Prescott's ankle fracture in the fifth game of the 2020 season ended his year -- requiring two ankle surgeries and an intense rehab process to get the Dallas Cowboys quarterback back on the field in time for Week 1. Brady tore his ACL in Week 1 of the 2008 season, requiring a full reconstruction of the ligament. He also played through last year with a fully torn MCL that required surgery in the offseason -- so he knows the work Prescott has put in to get back on the field. 

Brady expects the Cowboys quarterback to play at the level he was before the injury occurred. 

"He's a really talented player," Brady said to reporters Tuesday. "Really since the day he came into the league, he's shown to be a great leader for the team. We're just expecting him to play like Dak Prescott does – very talented, loose in the pocket, throws a good ball, they have a lot talented skill players.

"Dak's a great player. They have one of the best offenses and a very talented defense, they're very deep at linebacker, they have a good push up front and I think they have a very talented secondary. It's a big challenge for our team."

Prescott was on pace for a record setting year before the ankle injury. The Cowboys quarterback had 1,856 passing yards and 12 touchdowns (nine passing, three rushing) for a 99.6 rating in five games last year. He was on pace to throw for 5,939 yards before the ankle injury. Only Prescott and Patrick Mahomes averaged over 300 passing yards per game over the last two years -- Prescott leads the league averaging 321.8 yards per game. 

With Prescott on the field, Brady knows the Buccaneers are in for a shootout. 

"For us offensively, we're going to have to do a good job putting our defense in a good position," Brady said. "I don't think we can give any extra possessions. Turnovers will be a big factor, field position is going to be important, getting off the field on third-down and us staying on the field, keeping the ball out of their hands is going to be important."

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians isn't taking Prescott's mobility lightly. He expects to see the same Dak Prescott he's coached against prior to the injury. 

"Knowing him personally like I do, there's no change in him [or] the way he's going to play," Arians said. "He only knows one way how to play, and that's full speed."