Cooper Rush subbing for injured Cowboys QB Dak Prescott isn’t new, but bouncing back from a loss is

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cooper Rush’s eighth profession begin filling in for Dak Prescott as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys will probably be his first making an attempt to bounce again instantly from a poor efficiency in a loss.

Rush received his first 4 begins in 2022 because the backup to the franchise QB sidelined on the time by a damaged thumb, then threw three interceptions in a loss at Philadelphia previous to Prescott’s return.

Now, Prescott is out for the season with a torn hamstring, and Rush is coming off an anemic passing efficiency because the Cowboys play host to AFC South-leading Houston (6-4) on Monday night time.

Dallas (3-6) is on a four-game shedding streak and 0-4 at residence, fading quick within the NFC East as a defending division champion with a three-year playoff streak. The go to from the Texans will come 5 days after Prescott’s season-ending surgical procedure.

“We’ll be fascinated by him, however as for us, we obtained to go on the market and compete for him as if he’s there, so far as aggressive spirit and management and every thing,” 2023 All-Professional receiver CeeDee Lamb mentioned. “We obtained to step up after which (do) the issues that we anticipate out of ourselves.”

Loads of it should begin with Rush, whose 45 yards passing in final week’s 34-6 loss to the Eagles have been the fewest for a Dallas beginning quarterback since Matt Cassel had 37 earlier than getting benched in a 19-16 loss to the New York Jets late in one other misplaced season in 2015.

The third blowout loss at residence this season for the Cowboys was the primary sport since Prescott injured his hamstring in a 27-21 loss at Atlanta.

“I believe Cooper has to get us out and in of the runs and passes and get us into the stream of the sport,” coach Mike McCarthy mentioned. “It’s a must to distribute the ball 53, 54, 55 occasions a sport to your perimeter playmakers whether or not you’re handing it off or throwing it. We now have to get again to that performance on offense.”

Rush took a shot to the top when he dropped a snap and misplaced a fumble inside his 20-yard line, a miscue that gave Philadelphia a 7-0 lead within the first quarter.

The undrafted 31-year-old in his eighth NFL season has all the time been unflappable, however might need been a bit rattled by the unforced error as he completed 13 of 23 with a paltry common of 1.96 yards per try.

“Clearly, I used to be annoyed by it,” Rush mentioned. “It was recognizing them that subject place. It was irritating, however the subsequent drive we did go proper down the sector. Assume we ran it very well that drive and did get factors so I used to be completely happy to see us bounce again that manner.”

Rush has misplaced his previous two begins — each towards the Eagles — after successful the primary 5, together with one in 2021 when Prescott had a strained calf.

The Cowboys succeeded with Rush in 2022 as a result of he protected the ball, going with out an interception whereas throwing for a mean of 194 yards in the course of the 4 consecutive victories.

That was additionally certainly one of three consecutive seasons during which Dallas completed with a turnover margin of not less than plus-10.

The Cowboys are at minus-10, which is twenty ninth within the NFL, and have dedicated 5 turnovers in every of the previous two residence video games. Rush didn’t throw an interception towards the Eagles however misplaced two fumbles.

“We’ve obtained a whole lot of religion in Cooper,” McCarthy mentioned. “All people believes in him. How will you not based mostly off of how he has carried out? That fumble and the restoration try was off to a tough begin, and I simply felt like he by no means obtained right into a rhythm.”

Two of Rush’s 5 landing passes in his five-game stint two years in the past have been to Lamb, however that was earlier than Lamb’s breakout 2023 season.

His profession highs of 135 catches, an NFL greatest, for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns led to a protracted holdout that ended with Lamb signing a $136 million, four-year extension in August.

Now any hope of a restoration that will preserve Dallas’ fading playoff hopes alive rests with getting the Rush-Lamb mixture going.

“I take full accountability in getting in sync with him,” Lamb mentioned. “Clearly we’re going to journey this factor out for the remainder of the season. I’ve probably the most confidence in him. I don’t care what occurred final week.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL