Which games will Dak Prescott miss? Update on Cowboys QB as Jerry Jones floats Injured Reserve option

Quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys sustained a hamstring injury in the second half of the 21–27 Atlanta Falcons loss in Week 9. An MRI scan Monday revealed that the injury was more severe than first thought and that the 6-foot-2 quarterback will likely miss several games.

On Monday, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy stated that the team is still assessing Prescott's condition and would not comment on whether he could be placed on injured reserve.

However, Dallas Cowboys reporter Jon Machota of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Jerry Jones, the team's owner, stated on 1053thefan that the QB will likely be placed on injured reserve.

Dak Prescott would be out for games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Washington Commanders, and New York Giants if he were placed on the injured reserve list, which ensures he would be unavailable for at least four games.

For the first time since 2020, the 3-5 Cowboys have dropped three consecutive games in an already difficult season. With three key games against teams with a record of over .500 coming up—Week 10 against the 6-2 Eagles, Week 11 against the 6-3 Texans, and Week 12 against the 7-2 Commanders—it might become even worse for Dallas going forward without their primary quarterback.

Who will start for the Eagles while Dak Prescott is out?

Cooper Rush will likely take Dak Prescott's place at center, as the quarterback is expected to miss time due to a hamstring issue. Rush has won five of the six games he started for the Cowboys in his career, so he is well-versed in the team's playbook.

In the absence of Prescott, Trey Lance, the team's third quarterback, is an additional option. His rushing skills might also be helpful for a Cowboys side that has rushed for more yards than only one team in the league this season.

Lance has not played in the NFL since Brock Purdy overtook him as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. That season, he recorded 15 completions from 31 attempts before suffering an ankle injury that kept him out of action for the remainder of the campaign.

To salvage their season, the Cowboys may consider bringing in a free quarterback like Ryan Tannehill from the open market.