Cooper Rush earned his first win of the season as the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback, leading the team to a 34-26 upset victory over the Washington Commanders.
However, Rush exited the game with a knee injury and was listed as limited on the Cowboys’ estimated practice report on Monday, which was primarily a walkthrough.
Despite the injury, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism about Rush’s availability for their Thanksgiving matchup against the New York Giants.
“He’s got some work to do, but I think we’re gonna be fine,” McCarthy said.
If Rush is unable to play, the Cowboys would turn to Trey Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick. Lance has been serving as the backup since Dak Prescott’s injury but has seen only limited action this season.
Cowboys, Cooper Rush Get ‘Ball Rolling’ With Win
Rush played a pivotal role in the Cowboys’ second-half surge against the Commanders, throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
“I thought Cooper did a great job managing the game. I thought the run game teed up some completions for him. I thought he was very decisive,” McCarthy said. “Clearly, it was his best game so far this year.”
Rush also helped get CeeDee Lamb involved in the offense. Lamb hauled in 10 receptions for 67 yards, though he did not score a touchdown.
“Pretty good,” Lamb said of Rush’s performance. “Obviously, I feel like we could’ve scored a lot more, but his two touchdowns are definitely a confidence booster for the next few games.”
The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Cowboys, keeping their faint playoff hopes alive. To reach the postseason, Dallas will likely need to win out, but Sunday’s win was a significant step forward. Facing a divisional rival, the Cowboys overcame the odds as 10.5-point underdogs.
“You’ve just got to get that ball rolling. That’s what we talked about, that was the message all week, get one,” Rush said. “Full team effort today, as everyone saw. It was awesome.”
The Cowboys’ victory was indeed a full team effort, particularly in a fourth quarter that featured 41 points and included two kick return touchdowns — both scored by Dallas.
Cowboys Don’t Plan on Tanking for Draft Pick
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 4-7. While some might argue that the team would benefit from losing to secure a higher draft pick, the players are not subscribing to that mindset.
“I’m not done yet,” said Cowboys star Micah Parsons. “I don’t plan on tanking. If the higher-ups are looking for a draft pick, I hope that’s ruined, because we got a lot of football left to play. As long as I’m a part of this team, we’re always going to fight.”
Next up, the Cowboys face a struggling New York Giants team that is 2-9 and riding a six-game losing streak. Dallas enters the game as a four-point favorite at home.
The Giants are coming off a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, falling 30-7.
