Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury during the Dallas Cowboys’ 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. The Cowboys quarterback is expected to miss multiple weeks, and Cooper Rush will start in the next game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke to the media about the quarterback situation and hinted that not only Rush but Trey Lance could also see the field in the upcoming few weeks.
Jerry Jones Provides Clarity on Dallas Cowboys’ QB Situation
During an appearance on the “105.3 The Fan” radio show, Jones gave details about what to expect from the quarterbacks following Prescott’s injury. “I think we can run anything that Dak runs with him [Rush],” Jones said, as per Cowboys’ insider Jon Machota.
When asked about Lance, the Cowboys owner added, “Oh, there is a window for Trey Lance. There are packages we can work on. Let me be clear, that’s just not to get Lance some playing time, that’s to bring to the table some offense for us. … He’s a big threat with his legs.”
Rush has been a reliable backup for the Cowboys. He is 5-1 as a starter and had a four-game winning streak in 2022 when Prescott was dealing with a thumb injury. Rush faces no pressure since Dallas has struggled this year and is unlikely to make the playoffs.
Last year, the Cowboys acquired Lance from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Many thought he could be Prescott’s replacement if the quarterback was traded or signed with any other team in free agency. However, the Cowboys rewarded Prescott with a four-year, $240 million extension before the start of the season.
So far, Lance has not had a real opportunity to impress the team, but based on what everyone saw in the preseason, it does not seem like his long-term future lies in Dallas.
In these upcoming games, Dallas might consider giving Lance some playing time to increase his trade value and potentially recover some draft capital over the offseason, though he would need to be re-signed or extended. After this season, the former 49ers quarterback will become a free agent, leaving the team’s actual plan regarding him unclear.
When Will Dak Prescott Return?
The Cowboys plan to place Prescott on the injured reserve. Due to this, he will miss at least the next four games. However, as per reports, the Cowboys’ star’s recovery timeline is expected to be around six weeks.
Stephen Jones on Dak "Right now I don't think anyone knows if it will be 4 weeks, 6 weeks, or the season." @1053thefan
— Zach Wolchuk (@ZachWolchuk) November 8, 2024
Dallas is 3-5 heading into Week 10, and by the time Prescott is available again, only three games will be left in the season. Since the Cowboys will have a chance at getting a high draft pick for the 2025 NFL Draft, there is a possibility that they might not play their starring quarterback again this season.
Before his injury, Prescott completed 64.7% of his throws with a career-low QBR of 46.7 in eight games, throwing for 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.