The Dallas Cowboys were hit with a double-whammy on Sunday as they not only lost 27-21 to the Atlanta Falcons to drop to 3-5, but they also lost Dak Prescott for an extended period with a hamstring injury. The quarterback, who had completed 18 of his 24 pass attempts for 133 yards and one touchdown, exited the game in the fourth quarter and did not return.
According to initial reports, he was expected to be sidelined for a few weeks, but there were fears that he'd be sidelined for the rest of the season. While he's determined to return to action as quickly as possible, his injury diagnosis suggests he'll miss at least four games, if not more.
According to NFL insider Jane Slater, Prescott suffered a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon. The injury takes more than a month to heal.
It's a massive blow to the Cowboys. Their season was already on life support after their loss to the Falcons, but their quarterback's lengthy layoff may suggest that it's time to pull the plug and plan for their future.
Cowboys depth chart: Who'll start in Dak Prescott's absence?
With Dak Prescott set to miss at least four games, backup Cooper Rush will likely get an extended run as the team's starting quarterback. The 31-year-old has spent his entire seven-year NFL career with the Cowboys, playing 30 games.
Rush came into the game after Prescott's exit on Sunday against the Falcons and threw 25 passes, completing 13 for 115 yards and one touchdown.
The veteran backup is 6-1 as a starter. He has a 60.0% completion rate, throwing for 1,786 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions. Rush has been an excellent servant for Dallas over the years, and the team knows it can bank on him to be serviceable in Prescott's absence.
If he struggles or suffers an injury, former No. 3 pick Trey Lance will play under center. He last played in Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season for the San Francisco 49ers.
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