With Dak Prescott sidelined for the foreseeable future with a hamstring injury — perhaps even for the rest of the season — the Dallas Cowboys, just as they had to do two years ago when Dak went down with a thumb issue, will hand the keys to the offense to Cooper Rush.
In 2022, Rush filled in admirably. He was never going to put up Prescott-like numbers, but he fared well enough, completing 58% of his passes for 956 yards with five touchdowns against three interceptions in his five starts, winning four of them. Not bad for a backup.
But let's get real here. Not every Cowboys fan wants to Rush under center right now, not with Trey Lance still waiting to take his first regular-season snap with a star on the side of his helmet.
Naturally, Jerry Jones was asked during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan about Dallas "going with" Rush at quarterback with Prescott sidelined. But the Cowboys' owner was quick to dismiss that term, suggesting that Lance could very well take some snaps.
"Let's not dismiss the possibility of doing anything," Jones said. "The 'going with' has a past tense aspect to it that I wouldn't recognize. It's not impossible to incorporate some of the skills that we might get from both quarterbacks."
On Lance specifically, Jones said, "There are things we can do with him that I think can add punch to the offense."
With the Cowboys' season essentially over at this point, it's worth a shot, even if it's just a few gadget plays here and there. And who knows? If Rush struggles, Lance, who actually does offer more from an overall standpoint with his rushing ability, could get the QB1 gig in a week or two. And he seems to be up for it.
Despite not having taken a regular-season snap in more than two years, the 2021 No. 3 overall pick says he's ready to go if Mike McCarthy calls his number.
Speaking with the media earlier this week, Lance had nothing but great things to say about Rush, commenting on how he gave Dallas "every opportunity" to pull off a comeback against the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday.
As far as his own game is concerned, the 24-year-old feels it's in great shape.
"Last year was probably a whole different story," Lance said. "But having gone through the whole offseason program and this season up to this point — great coaches, great guys around me — I feel prepared if that opportunity does happen at some point."
Whether that opportunity comes remains to be seen. But whether in a few random plays here and there or as the starter, Lance seems to be ready. And given what Jones gave up to get him and the salary he's being paid, the Cowboys might as well get some use out of him.
