Dallas Cowboys Face Quarterback Dilemma with Prescott Injured

The Dallas Cowboys were dealt a significant setback in Week 9 of the NFL season when their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, suffered an injury. This event occurred as the Cowboys’ record fell to 3-5, placing their playoff hopes in jeopardy in a competitive NFC landscape filled with numerous six-win teams. Consequently, the team faced a pivotal decision regarding who should fill the quarterback position in Prescott’s absence.

The primary contenders for the role were veteran Cooper Rush and Trey Lance, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Ultimately, the Cowboys decided to trust Cooper Rush with the starting position. Jerry Jones, the owner and general manager of the Cowboys, explained the decision stating that Rush provided the best opportunity for the team to remain competitive while Prescott is unavailable. «Cooper has shown that he has the capability to compete and win in games,» Jones remarked following Week 10.

Rush entered the 2024 NFL season with an impressive track record, boasting a 5-1 record in six starts with the Cowboys. In his first five career starts from 2021 to 2022, Rush achieved victory, becoming only the 14th quarterback in NFL history to do so, and the first in Cowboys’ history. However, his performance in his first start of the 2024 season was less inspiring, as he managed to complete only 13 of his 23 passes for a mere 45 yards, leading Dallas to score just six points.

Despite this setback, Jones expressed confidence in Rush, citing that his lackluster performance was «out-of-character» based on previous outings. Should Rush’s performance fail to improve, the Cowboys are likely to consider giving Lance an opportunity, especially as the team’s position in the standings becomes more uncertain. Entering Week 11, the Cowboys were in 13th place in the NFC, trailing the wild-card pace by three games.

For Trey Lance, this situation presents an opportunity to potentially showcase his talents before becoming a free agent at the season’s end. Despite having a 2-2 record in his career starts, Lance’s stats indicate a potential higher ceiling, including a better passer rating and yards per attempt than Rush. Thus, if the Cowboys fall out of playoff contention and Rush continues to struggle, the team might decide to utilize Lance to assess his long-term value.

Additionally, giving Lance playing time might benefit the Cowboys in securing a compensatory draft pick, should another team express interest in signing him post-season. However, this move would depend markedly on the Cowboys’ standing and Rush’s performance in the coming weeks, with Week 12 being a potential turning point if results do not favor Dallas.