Facing the Eagles on Sunday could be a déjà vu moment for Cowboys backup QB Cooper Rush. Back in 2022, when the Cowboys lost their star QB Dak Prescott to a broken thumb on the opening day. It seemed like the Cowboys’ season would crumble before it even began. However, to everyone’s surprise, Rush went 4-1 as a starter until Prescott returned.

Winning against the Bengals, Giants, Commanders and Rams, the only defeat came at the hands of the Eagles. But this time, Rush has a chance to enter the Dallas record books if the Cowboys can win on Sunday. He would be the only 3rd QB in franchise history to ever win their first six of seven starts since debut. It’s a record that even Cowboys legends Tony Romo and Troy Aikman failed to engineer. But if he does, then Rush will join the elite list of Roger Staubach and Dak Prescott after Sunday’s clash in Dallas.

With a 3-5 record, the Cowboys must win on Sunday. Otherwise, their chances of making it through the playoffs could fall further behind. “I mean we’re just trying to beat Philly. That’s kind of our approach this week. Got to take them one at a time. It’s a cliche but it works. And so that’s kind of the goal and you’re really just taking it practice by practice, game by game and we’ll see what happens,” as per Rush. Over the six games he started for the Cowboys, Rush recorded 7 TDs and four interceptions. So, this would be a huge opportunity for him to shine again whenever called upon.

As for his teammates, they also have high hopes for Cooper Rush, “I still believe we can make a run. I’ve seen what Cooper Rush can do,” opined Micah Parsons. Well, his most-targeted receiver (66 targets), CeeDee Lamb, also chimed in with his praises, “We know what Coop can do. The confidence is still there. Stand in there and deliver.” 

While his teammates have expressed their faith in Rush, the Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy compared him with four-time Pro Bowler Rich Gannon, “Cooper Rush is as respected of a backup quarterback that I’ve been around since Rich Gannon. He’s a great teammate. He’s someone that you can see the young guys lean on.” Looking at the Cowboys’ condition right now, they don’t really have any other option but to rely on the 30-year-old as Dak Prescott is set to land on injury reserves.

Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury faces it’s worst outcome

With only less than 11 minutes of the final quarter left to play on Sunday, Dak Prescott pulled his right hamstring. It only added to the woes of the Cowboys’ season, which isn’t going anywhere right now. There are reports that the Cowboys could place Prescott on the injury reserve. It would mean that he will miss the next four clashes out of the remaining nine games. And that would be a massive loss, considering his importance to the team.

Over the eight games he has played so far, Prescott recorded 1,978 passing yards with 11 TDs. However, his 64.7 pass completion percentage and eight interceptions aren’t the numbers the Cowboys were looking at. Well, it could be worse for them, as the partial avulsion on his right hamstring tendon could require surgery. And if it does come true, then his game against the Falcons could be his last this season.

Although the Cowboys are looking at other possible solutions, their season now lies upon Cooper Rush’s credibility. Will he be able to turn around the fortunes of the Cowboys starting on Sunday? Guess we will find out soon, as Rush is set to exact revenge against the Eagles in Dallas.