Could Cowboys QB Dak Prescott be back as early as next week?
The Cowboys should be happy with their backup QB’s performance and happier for the win, but Prescott’s declaration is good news.
If his words hold true, then they will be very welcome to the ears of Cowboys fans, after watching their team get off to a sluggish start this season.
Dak Prescott could be ready for Week 4
Though he wasn’t included in the lineup for Monday night’s game against the Giants, the Cowboys’ quarterback definitely caught attention before a down was played, when he confirmed that he had the stitches removed from his right thumb following the surgery he had days ago. Monday’s game against the Giants was of course the second game that Prescott missed since fracturing his thumb during the Cowboys’ opening night loss to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Curiously, after he threw around the ball during the pregame warmup for the Giants, Prescott said that it wouldn’t be long now.
“A couple of weeks, and I’m counting this week as one of them,” Prescott said, before adding that he was not ruling out the possibility of playing against the Commanders. The catch here, is of course Prescott’s ability to grip the ball, or lack thereof which will determine whether or not he can suit up once again. It’s been interesting to note that so far, the Cowboys have neglected to list Prescott on the injured reserve. Indeed, the team continues to be optimistic that their QB could return by mid-October the latest. Owner Jerry Jones even specified the number of games they were thinking. “We want him to be in consideration for playing within the next four games,” Jones said following Prescott’s injury.
How have the Cowboys done with Dak Prescott?
It has to be said that Cooper Rush has stepped up to the plate in Prescott’s absence. After spearheading a late game-winning drive in a 20-17 win over the Bengals, the backup quarterback made it clear that the team was in good hands. For a player who has completed less than 60% of his passes this season, he was central in helping the Cowboys post the league’s most efficient offense ahead of the clash with the Giants.
Against the Giants - the eighth defense in the league in points and passing yards allowed, first in third -down efficiency and sixth in red zone efficiency, Rush was decisive when he needed to be. Engineering a 4th quarter drive that ended in a sensational one-handed catch by Ceedee Lamb for the go-ahead touchdown. Despite a late surge by the Giants, the Cowboys ultimately won by a score of 23-16 to get their second win of the season.