Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas — A lot changed for the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, who are now 3-5 after Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but not as much as the health of quarterback Dak Prescott. There was nothing big.
Coach Mike McCarthy said the Cowboys are only prepared to say Prescott will miss Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a right hamstring injury, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Prescott said he is expected to miss several weeks.
Prescott is undergoing a second opinion, and once that information is finalized, the Cowboys could discuss potentially placing him on injured reserve. If they make such a move, he would be sidelined until Dec. 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The immediate focus is on the Eagles, whose starting quarterback is Cooper Rush.
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“It really doesn’t change anything for us. Even though I talked to Dak earlier, this is about the quarterback room. We’ve always invested all our time and energy into Dak, the quarterback who carries the football. ” McCarthy said. “It’s Cooper’s turn next and Dak will be a part of that process. We’re going to rally around him and make sure we do everything we can to make sure he’s ready. “We’re just going to do what we’ve always done.” We’ve gone about it. ”
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was injured in the second half of the game against the Falcons, spraining the AC joint in his right shoulder. Lamb has only missed one game due to injury in his career. Despite the rising ratings, McCarthy remained optimistic.
If Lamb plays against the Eagles, he will likely be dealing with some serious shoulder pain. He was injured on a 10-yard reception in the second quarter against the Falcons. He continued to play, but landed again in the fourth quarter while attempting a diving catch in the end zone.
“Just knowing CeeDee, I can’t believe he’s not playing,” McCarthy said. “But that’s why we do the testing.”
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A source told Schefter that defensive end Micah Parsons “should be back” this week after missing the past four games with an upper left ankle injury. McCarthy said Parsons was “feeling better.” Even though Parsons missed those four games, he remains a team leader under pressure.
“He’s going to get some practice time on Wednesday. It’s going to be a big day to get us going in that direction,” McCarthy said. “There seems to be a possibility that he will be on the practice field.”
McCarthy also indicated cornerback Daron Brand could return to practice this week to test his surgically repaired left foot after Tuesday’s workout. He hasn’t played all season after undergoing surgery in August.
And running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was inactive for disciplinary reasons and remained in Dallas for the game, will be available this week, according to McCarthy. Mr. McCarthy has not spoken to Mr. Elliott since Friday.
But the key loss is Prescott. Even if he didn’t have his best season with 11 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He snapped a three-game winning streak Sunday with multiple interceptions, but completed just 18 of 24 passes and threw for just 133 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass.
“He’s been through this before, and he’s no different this time around,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “He knows he has a lot of football left to play and he’s motivated to do his part while he’s watching, helping and whatever it is. .”
Since 2020, Prescott has missed games with a dislocated and fractured right ankle, a right calf strain and a fractured right thumb.
Rush went 4-1 as the Cowboys’ starter in 2022 after Prescott injured his thumb in the season opener. The Cowboys never had a starting rusher score more than 25 points, but the defense only allowed more than 20 points once. His only loss came against the Eagles when he was intercepted three times.
For his career, Rush is 5-1 as a starter.
“Cooper Rush is the most respected backup quarterback since Rich Gannon when he was with Rich on the Kansas City Chiefs in the ’90s,” McCarthy said. “He has that kind of reliability. He’s a great teammate. He’s someone you know young players are relying on. He’s very smart, very intuitive, and he’s a great teammate when it comes to running the scout team. He does a great job. He just does everything the right way. He’s a great professional and I have a lot of confidence in him.”
The trade deadline is Tuesday, and after the loss to Atlanta, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the team has “a few things lined up” for a potential deal, but he doesn’t want it to be a blockbuster. He said that it was not of a certain nature.
“I don’t think it’s as much as you need. It’s really what’s available and does it help you get better,” McCarthy said. “I’ve always approached the trade deadline that way. Obviously, I don’t have a lot of experience putting players in at the trade deadline. If things are right and the value and everything that goes into it, then this is right. “I think it’s not just decisions based on this position, that position. Everything needs to be in harmony. ”
