On any given game day in the NFL, only 32 men suit up to start at quarterback, and Cooper Rush isn’t taking the opportunity to lead the Dallas Cowboys lightly.
When Rush took over for Dak Prescott in Week 1, NFL writer Marc Sessler pinned Rush at 32nd in the league. It was a fair assessment for a player who was struggling to win a spot on the practice squad and was released by Dallas ahead of the 53-man reduction only to be re-signed days later after clearing waivers.
After emerging from the Meadowlands with a huge divisional victory on Monday Night Football, Rush is now ranked 21st, falling close behind some of the league’s top quarterbacks. Just ahead of Rush, Sessler puts the Broncos Russell Wilson (20), the Commanders Carson Wentz (19), and the Raiders Derek Carr (18).
“Rush came through when it mattered most, delivering a gorgeous over-the-shoulder, go-ahead scoring strike to CeeDee Lamb in the fourth quarter,” wrote Sessler.
“The toss by Rush was a next-level quick strike plenty of veterans are still perfecting. Over back-to-back, game-deciding touchdown drives in the second half, Cooper [Rush] caught fire to hit 12 of 13 passes, including that lob to Lamb. Every front office in the league has taken notice,” the analyst continued.
Rush has won two consecutive starts, becoming only the fifth Cowboys QB to earn consecutive victories in their first starts. Including his first NFL start last year against the Minnesota Vikings on Halloween, Rush is 3-0.
He has thrown for 514 yards on 47 completions with two touchdowns and no interceptions, making him the only quarterback with at least five completions to have not yet surrendered a pick in 2022.
Rush will likely get at least one more start this week when the Cowboys welcome the Washington Commanders to AT&T Stadium. Prescott, who fractured a bone in the thumb of his throwing hand in the fourth quarter of Week 1, will almost certainly be ruled out this week.
Prescott had the single stitch in his hand removed Monday ahead of the game against New York and was seen gently tossing footballs on the sidelines.
“He still has some swelling that he has to deal with, said Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday. “Once he gets past the swelling and the strengthening stage, then he’ll get to the point where he’ll be able to throw,” McCarthy said.
“He’ll be dealing with more rehab this week and hopefully we’ll get the swelling and the strength where it needs to be. But I do not have a timeline on when he’ll start throwing,” the coach continued.
The Cowboys will face a battered Washington Commanders team still searching for its identity after gaining a new name in the offseason this Sunday. The Cowboys under Rush have operated a balanced offense that has seen plenty of groundwork by running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard and the emergence of receiver Noah Brown who has blossomed in his opportunities on an injury-depleted receiving corps.
As Sessler said, front offices are well-aware of the performance Rush is putting out on the field, and his value is likely on the rise, with many teams already looking for the future at QB after Week 3. Prescott could return as soon as Week 4, but is unlikely to be cleared for action until at least Week 5 when the Cowboys travel to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Rams.
