Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Controversy? Cooper Rush Won't Replace Dak Prescott, Jerry Jones Says

Dak Prescott's right thumb injury hasn't been the blow to the Dallas Cowboys that it seemed it might be when the quarterback went down in the season opener. After losing in Week 1 with Prescott, the Cowboys have gone 3-0 with Cooper Rush as the starter.

Does that mean there's a quarterback controversy brewing in Dallas? Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has shrugged off the notion that Rush could keep the job when Prescott is ready to return.

"No. No. As I see it right today," Jones said on 105.3 FM in Dallas when asked if he could see a scenario where Rush would start over a healthy Prescott.

It probably won't be long before Prescott is back on the field for the Cowboys. Jones said Prescott still can't grip a football well enough to play, but he wouldn't go as far to rule out Prescott for the team's upcoming game.

Dallas visits the Los Angeles Rams Sunday.

"I know (Prescott's thumb is) better," Jones said. "I know he's gonna go out every day and make progress toward being able to grip the ball. He'll have a big week and he'll be hard on himself getting ready to go."

Rush has been a more-than-adequate replacement for Prescott. The career backup has thrown for 673 yards, four passing touchdowns and no interceptions in three starts. Rush has posted a passer rating of 95.5 or better in each start.

Rush has a 4-0 career record as the Cowboys starting quarterback. He threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings last season.

It's been Dallas' defense that has led the way in Rush's starts. The Cowboys haven't scored more than 25 points in Prescott's absence. Dallas is one of two teams that hasn't given up more than 20 points in a single game this season.

Micah Parsons has four sacks and is favored to win the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award. The Cowboys are only giving up 171.0 passing yards per game.

A strong defensive effort was no help in Week 1 when the Cowboys were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-3. Prescott completed fewer than half of his passes for 134 yards as Dallas failed to find its way into the end zone.

Expect a much better performance by Prescott upon his return. Receiver Michael Gallup has since made his debut after missing the first three games. There's a good chance that Prescott will be back for a Week 7 matchup against the Detroit Lions, which have surrendered the most yards and points through the first month of the season.

In each of Prescott's last two full seasons, the Cowboys led the league in total offense. Prescott threw for 4,449 yards, 37 touchdowns and a 104.2 passer rating last season.

The Cowboys signed Prescott to a four-year, $160 million contract before the 2021 season. It's going to take a lot more than a few good games for Rush to create a legitimate quarterback controversy.