Earlier in the week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated on the radio that starting quarterback Dak Prescott is only a week or two away from returning to the field.
It looks like Prescott is hoping for sooner, rather than later.
In Wednesday's practice, Dak Prescott was seen without tape or a splint on his surgically repaired right thumb and was throwing short passes to his running backs. Could we see Prescott ready for game action come October 9th when the Cowboys travel to Los Angeles to face the defending Super Bowl Champions?
In the two games that Dak Prescott has missed, backup quarterback Cooper Rush has helped lead this Cowboys team to a 2-1 record, throwing for 514 yards with two touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 73.7%. Rush has done exactly what is required of him: To manage the game, protect the ball, and put this team in a position to win every time he is on the field. But that's it.
As the Cowboys get ready to face off against the Washington Commanders this Sunday, all eyes will be on the performance of Cooper Rush. Why, you ask? Simply put, his performance is going to be a motivating factor in just how quickly the team will need Dak Prescott to be ready to take the field.
If Cooper Rush leads this team to a win over Washington and has the Cowboys sitting at 3-1, I don't see the Cowboys rushing Prescott to be ready for Week 5.
This does not indicate a quarterback controversy (although Jerry Jones has entertained the thought of it), but it does allow the Cowboys to give Dak Prescott enough time to heal properly and reduce the risk of re-injuring his thumb if he returns too quickly.
The Cowboys would prefer to have their $40 million-dollar QB under center when they go up against arguably the greatest defensive player of all time, Aaron Donald, and the Super Bowl champion L.A. Rams – but it would be a daunting task for Prescott to overcome for his first game back if he isn't completely ready.
Cowboys fans are stuck with the unattractive memory of Dak Prescott's first game of the 2022 NFL season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he put up one of the ugliest performances of his career. But we all know that is not the level of play that is a standard for Prescott.
Although Cooper Rush has achieved three wins in his only three starts, that is his ceiling.
His performance over those three games is the total package that Cooper Rush offers you. We have seen the MVP-level performances that you get with Dak Prescott, and he is the heartbeat of this team. When he is ready to go, he will be under center.
Nobody wants to be on the field with his teammates more than Dak Prescott, but his team needs him healthy. He is the centerpiece of this team's desire to make a deep playoff run and possibly a Super Bowl appearance that fans and this organization have been longing for. If the Cowboys manage to leave AT&T Stadium on Sunday sitting at 3-1, I wouldn't expect to see Prescott back on the field so soon.
