Cowboys’ chances of storybook season now rest on shoulders of ‘confident, wicked smart’ Cooper Rush
Thursday is usually the day that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb conduct interviews with reporters at The Star after practice. Lamb went as usual this week. Prescott, who is dealing with a significant hamstring injury , was not in the locker room and did not talk with reporters. He will not play Sunday.
Backup QB Cooper Rush is getting the start. So, Rush handled the Thursday meeting with reporters outside of the locker room.
As Rush was answering his first question, Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson walked by and interjected. "If you guys see a quick flash of red on Sunday, don't be afraid," he said. "It's just No. 10."
The red-haired quarterback got a good laugh out of the comment.
Rush, 30, will be making his seventh career start Sunday. He has a 5-1 record, which includes going 4-1 in 2022 when Prescott was sidelined with a thumb injury. The one loss, however, came against Sunday's opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles .
Rush acknowledges that he is more prepared this time around.
"I'm older, seen more, I've done more," he said. "Gotten better as a player, I think, over the years. So it's exciting."
The negative side for Rush is that he's playing behind a struggling offensive line and the NFC's worst run game. The positive side is that Lamb is on track to play after suffering a painful shoulder injury last Sunday at Atlanta.
"My shoulder is much better than it was on Sunday, I'll tell you that," Lamb said Thursday. "I feel like I've taken a big step these last 2-3 days. I'm good. I was out there running today."
Lamb, who has been listed on the practice report as limited Wednesday and Thursday, added that the injury is more about dealing with pain. His range of motion is not an issue and he does not plan on wearing a protective brace Sunday.
In Rush's eight NFL seasons, he has showcased his best rapport with Lamb. He has thrown to the three-time Pro Bowler 66 times with 40 completions for 477 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Former Cowboys WR Noah Brown is the second-most targeted player in Rush's career at 27 targets.
"He's pretty easy to throw to, the guy gets open," Rush said of Lamb. "He's got good body language, size, all of that. He's been awesome this week, in terms of communicating with me, letting me know what's going on and how he sees certain things. Like I said, it's guys I've played with before. I watch them practice, so it doesn't take too long to get back in rhythm with him. He's an easy guy to throw to."
While praising Rush this week, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy compared Dallas' backup QB to Rich Gannon, who McCarthy coached in the 1990s while with the Kansas City Chiefs .
"Cooper Rush is as respected of a backup quarterback that I've (been around) since Rich Gannon," McCarthy said. "(Rush) carries that type of credibility. He's a great teammate. He's someone that you can see the young guys lean on.
"He's wicked smart, instinctive. He does a great job when he runs the scout team. He just does everything the right way. Excellent pro. There will be plenty of confidence in him."
Gannon was a four-time Pro Bowler and the 2002 league MVP.
"He had a great career obviously," Rush said of Gannon. "I was pretty young watching him but I remember the Super Bowl with the Raiders I think versus the Bucs. But yeah, a guy that has played forever, was a starter forever, different roles, and played well. It's always nice being compared to that. But you come in here and be the same guy every day and that's what guys want and they need."
Prescott's injury will likely cause him to be placed on injured reserve , which means he would miss at least the next four games. The Cowboys' current playoff chances aren't great at 7 percent, according to The Athletic's playoff projection model . So, if Dallas is going to have the storybook ending Jerry Jones is hoping for, Rush will have to do some extremely heavy lifting.
"(He's) confident, man," Lamb said. "He's been out there from the last time in 2022 He knows what it takes to win. He knows he has what it takes to win. That's half the battle. The rest, you've just got to go out there and do it. Talk is cheap."
(Photo: Ron Jenkins/)
