Cooper Rush’s last start in place of Dak Prescott as the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback in 2022 was against the Philadelphia Eagles.
This Sunday, Rush will take over again for Prescott, who is out with a hamstring injury. Prescott’s injury could lead to him being placed on injured reserve and might require surgery.
When Prescott missed time in 2022 due to a broken thumb, Rush went 4-1, helping the Cowboys to a strong start that contributed to a 12-5 playoff season.
Rush reflected on his experience, saying, “A ton. The more games you play, the more reps you bank, you put in your library, you draw on those. So feel confident in that.”
But this time, the situation is different. Two years ago, Prescott’s injury happened early in the season, and the Cowboys had plenty of time to recover. This year, Prescott’s torn hamstring came after the Cowboys lost three games in a row, including a 27-21 defeat to Atlanta.
At 3-5, the Cowboys haven’t had a losing streak this long since 2020, when Prescott missed 11 games due to a broken ankle. This season, Rush will also face a tough challenge, as the Cowboys have one of the NFL’s worst rushing offenses.
Meanwhile, the Eagles (6-2) are on a four-game winning streak, with quarterback Jalen Hurts playing well and running back Saquon Barkley having a career-best season. The Eagles are currently fighting for the NFC East division lead with Washington.
For the Cowboys, struggling to stay in the playoff race, a repeat division winner seems unlikely, as no NFC East team has won back-to-back titles in 20 years.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who sprained his shoulder against Atlanta but is expected to play, said, “We still have to have that fighter’s mentality. I’m a firm believer. Obviously, you’re going to get hit in the mouth at some point. It’s all in how you respond.”
Kellen Moore, who is now the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, spent five seasons with Rush during his time with the Cowboys. Moore knows Rush well, as Rush stepped in and won another game when Prescott had a calf injury in 2021.
This will be Rush’s seventh career start, and he is aiming to build on the four games he won in 2022, when he didn’t throw an interception before throwing three in a loss to the Eagles.
At least this time, Rush gets to face the Eagles at home.
Moore praised Rush, saying, “Coop is a really smart player. He has a great feel for the game. Anticipation. Vision. Feel for what the defense is doing. I think he puts himself in a really good position. It’ll still be a challenge for us.”
