Cowboys' Mike McCarthy confirms suspicion with strong words about quarterback situation following Dak Prescott news
The Dallas Cowboys will be without Dak Prescott for multiple weeks following a hamstring injury that happened during the team's loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. Prescott is reportedly missing more than a week but the Cowboys have yet to determine if he'll go on Injured Reserve. With a 3-5 record and a foot […]
The Dallas Cowboys will be without Dak Prescott for multiple weeks following a hamstring injury that happened during the team's loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.
Prescott is reportedly missing more than a week but the Cowboys have yet to determine if he'll go on Injured Reserve. With a 3-5 record and a foot out of the playoff picture, it would be a very viable path to take.
Head coach Mike McCarthy didn't provide any details on Prescott's injury or timetable but did discuss the plans at quarterback moving forward, confirming suspicions on the team moving forward with Cooper Rush as the backup over Trey Lance.
"Cooper has played really good football for us," McCarthy told reporters on Monday. "He's 5-1 in his opportunities, we have great confidence in him."
McCarthy argues the belief on Rush is about much more than his win-loss record when his name has been called but rather about his individual quarterback play. Asked if his career record goes a long way with the locker room as it proves he can get it done, McCarthy had a strong choice of words about Rush.
"It goes well beyond 5-1, I mean, Cooper Rush is about as respected as a backup quarterback that I've ever seen since Rich Gannon in the 90s with the Kansas City Chiefs," McCarthy said. "He carries that type of credibility, he's a great teammate, he's someone the young guys lean on, he's wicked smart, does a great job when he runs the scout team, he does everything the right way… There will be plenty of confidence in him."
To McCarthy's point, Rush gave his teammates plenty of chances of making plays when he entered the game for Prescott last Sunday in Atlanta, including two deep shots to CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert that were not caught but had pretty solid location.
"We've seen what (Rush) can do when he subbed in, and he definitely dropped a couple of nice balls on everybody in terms of placement, timing, and overall us being available and him being available for us," Lamb told reporters postgame on Sunday.
Cowboys fans would be smart to expect Rush to keep playing while Prescott is out. The coaching staff has made it clear since 2023 what the pecking order is at quarterback and it's not changing now, apparently.
"Trey Lance just needs to play, I've said that probably 20 times during the course of the preseason, I think it's just the fact that he was able to get game reps," McCarthy added about the quarterback situation Monday. "He's ready to go to be that No. 2 spot, we trust this quarterback room."
