“BREAKING: Coach Mike McCarthy Confirms Cooper Rush and Trey Lance Will Replace Dak Prescott as Starting QBs”
FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott will not play in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Dallas Cowboys will soon determine how long he will be sidelined. Until he returns, head coach Mike McCarthy made it clear that the quarterback rotation will consist of Cooper Rush and Trey Lance.
As the Week 10 matchup kicks off on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, Rush will start, a decision McCarthy anticipated.
“Cooper has been playing very well for us,” he noted. “He’s 5-1 in his opportunities. We have a lot of confidence in him.”
McCarthy emphasized Rush’s importance to the team and the locker room.
“[That record] goes beyond just 5-1,” he remarked about his experienced backup. “Cooper Rush commands as much respect as any backup quarterback, probably since Rich Gannon. He has that kind of credibility. He’s a fantastic teammate, and you can see young players leaning on him—he’s incredibly smart, instinctive, and does an excellent job running the scout team.
“He consistently does everything right. He’s an outstanding professional. We have a lot of confidence in him.”
Rush joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent from Central Michigan in 2017, primarily serving as Prescott’s backup, with a brief stint at the New York Giants in 2020 where he briefly worked with former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett. He returned in 2021, securing the QB2 role over Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci, and his standout moment came in a 20-16 win against the Vikings in Minnesota, throwing for 25 yards and two touchdowns while Prescott was recovering from a calf injury.
In 2022, with Prescott out due to a thumb fracture, Rush led the Cowboys to a 4-1 record, further establishing himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable backup quarterbacks.
Trey Lance, the former third overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers, is still developing behind Rush, despite limited in-game experience. He gained more playing time during the preseason after being traded to the Cowboys a year ago.
Given his lesser experience, Lance will act as QB2.
“Trey Lance just needs to play,” McCarthy stated. “I’ve probably said that numerous times this preseason. The fact he got game reps is significant. Since arriving, he’s been working on his footwork and concepts. He’s another excellent teammate and an integral part of our quarterback room and how we operate.
“Everyone has responsibilities during the week for game planning and presentations, and Trey excels in that, especially with signals. He’s prepared to stepinto the No. 2 role.”