Cooper Rush is ready to step into the starting spot vacated by injured Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said Monday afternoon the Cowboys are moving forward with Rush as the starter while Prescott heals. Prescott is seeking a second opinion on a hamstring injury that knocked him out of Sunday’s 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Prescott is out this week, but McCarthy said medical personnel are involved in the imminent decision of whether to place Prescott on injured reserve.

With Dallas (3-5) down 27-13 near the end of the third quarter, Prescott appeared to grimace after a 10-yard pass to Jalen Brooks. He stayed in the game but was ruled out with 11:08 left in the fourth quarter. Prescott said he first felt the pain the play before the completion to Brooks, when he was getting up after a 5-yard scramble.

Rush, who replaced Prescott on Sunday, will be backed up by Trey Lance when the Cowboys entertain the Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) on Sunday.

McCarthy said Rush is the most respected backup quarterback he’s coached since Rich Gannon.

“(He) carries that type of credibility. He’s a great teammate. He’s someone that you can see the young guys lean on,” McCarthy said. “He’s wicked smart, instinctive. He does a great job when he runs the scout team. He just does everything the right way. Excellent pro. There will be plenty of confidence in him.”

Making his 36th straight start, Prescott was 18-of-24 passing for 133 yards and a touchdown, along with a season-high 30 rushing yards. The 31-year-old entered the day with 24 rushing yards this season.

Rush led Dallas’ comeback bid. He passed for 115 yards and a touchdown. Rush has played sparingly of late behind Prescott, but after the longtime starting QB broke his right thumb in the 2022 season opener, Rush went 4-1 as the starter.

Prescott also missed 11 games in 2020 with a right ankle injury and sat out one game the next season due to a strained right calf.

–Field Level Media