NFC East

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones raved about quarterback Cooper Rush following the team's 23-16 win over the New York Giants on Monday night.

"He's certainly playing as well as anyone could have expected," Jones said on Shan and RJ on 105.3 The Fan (via The Athletic's Jon Machota). "He understands this offense. He's got the makeup for a top quarterback. We're very fortunate."

You couldn't blame Cowboys fans for thinking the sky was falling when Dak Prescott suffered a thumb injury that meant he'd miss multiple games. His absence exacerbated the sense of unease that grew following an offseason in which Dallas failed to make any major additions.

The team has instead won back-to-back games with Rush as the starter. The 28-year-old went 40-of-62 for 450 yards and two touchdowns across those contests. While he's not tearing up the record books, he's providing exactly what the offense needs.

Cooper Rush is 6th in QBR this season.

— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) September 27, 2022

Will say this: Very impressed by Cowboys QB Cooper Rush. Didn't see this coming during his time with Giants. Played well, made some tight throws Monday night. Was actually let down by his receivers at times. Strong performance

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 27, 2022

If this trend continues, then it could make for a tricky dynamic when Prescott is cleared to return. He's the more experienced and proven quarterback and should immediately climb to the top of the depth chart, yet head coach Mike McCarthy might be loath to mess with a good thing when the offense is humming with Rush.

There's also the matter of Prescott's recovery. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio posited how "seeing Rush play so well—and hearing the boss go on and on about it—won't make Prescott any less anxious."

Dak's a warrior but Cowboys should play out the Cooper Rush string as long as possible to stack wins and let Dak avoid a Russell Wilson situation from last year. https://t.co/qZ5StiaO0x

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 27, 2022

Prescott attempting to get back on the field before he's fully healed won't do anybody any favors.

Of course, all of this apprehension will look foolish if Rush falls back to earth and has a bad start or two. Entering the same company as former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett isn't exactly a great endorsement.

For now, Jones has every reason to be happy with his starting quarterback.

Odell Beckham Jr. questioned why all NFL stadiums don't feature grass fields after former New York Giants teammate Sterling Shepard suffered a torn ACL on the MetLife Stadium turf on Monday night.

Just get rid of it all the fkngether bro. Billions made off this game I can’t understand why we can’t play on grass. That shxt is rough. Prayers up for my brother. Shxt just hurt my heart 🤕

— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) September 27, 2022

Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney also ripped the turf after Shepard's injury (Warning: NSFW language):

https://twitter.com/0fficialC2N/status/1574798951995301892

Beckham is currently a free agent while recovering from a torn ACL suffered on a non-contact play during Super Bowl LVI, which was played on the turf at SoFi Stadium in February.

After OBJ's injury, several NFL players made posts on social media calling for the end of turf fields in favor of natural grass playing surfaces.

Entering the 2022 season, there were 17 grass fields and 13 turf fields in the NFL, per Stadiums of Pro Football. It's 30 fields for 32 teams because the Giants and Jets as well as the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams share stadiums.

Shepard suffered a torn Achilles last December but recovered in time for the start of the new season.

"It's tough. I'm not even going to lie. It's hard not to get choked up about it," Giants teammate Darius Slayton told reporters. "He's been here since the first day I got drafted. He's done a lot for me as a young guy. And then seeing him come off the Achilles last year and rehab all year, and how hard he fought to get back out there, it's definitely hard to see."

The 29-year-old University of Oklahoma alum was the Giants' leading receiver through three games, tallying 154 yards and one touchdown on 13 catches.

New York has been operating without a true No. 1 receiver so far this season. Slayton, Richie James, Wan'Dale Robinson, Toney and Kenny Golladay will compete for additional targets if Shepard is out for the remainder of the year.

The Giants are back in action Sunday when they host the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said he's aiming to return from a thumb injury for the team's Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 9.

"Nah, probably not," Prescott told Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today on Monday night about whether he'll play next week against the Washington Commanders. "But Week 5 against the Rams? That's the one I'm looking at."

The two-time Pro Bowler suffered the injury during a Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Backup Cooper Rush has since led the Cowboys to victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants.

"I've been better," Prescott told Reyes. "But now that we're winning, it's all good. And I'll be back soon."

Rush has played well during Prescott's absence, completing 47 of his 75 throws (62.7 percent) for 514 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His career record stands at 3-0 after guiding Dallas to a win over the Minnesota Vikings last season.

The Cowboys trailed the Giants 13-6 late in the third quarter Monday night before rattling off 17 straight points, including a touchdown pass from Rush to CeeDee Lamb, to take control of the NFC East clash. They held on to win, 23-16.

"He doesn't get rattled," head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters about Rush. "He's the same, every day. So consistent. He's playing good football right now. I'm glad to recognize him for it. He's giving us the boost to just keep playing on offense."

While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has suggested a quarterback controversy is possible if Rush continues to impress, it's hard to imagine that actually coming to fruition given Prescott's track record.

Last season, the 29-year-old Mississippi State product ranked fourth in completion percentage (68.8), tied for fourth in touchdown passes (37) and seventh in passing yards (4,449).

He also signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension in 2021. Benching him in favor of a sixth-year veteran with three career starts would be the boldest of moves.

So Prescott is a virtual lock to reclaim the starting job once medically cleared, and he told Reyes he's eager for that moment to arrive.

"Some people are OK with [sitting out], but I'm not built that way," he said. "It's f--king killing me not being out there with my guys. It's so hard, but I also know I got to be patient."

That said, the Cowboys can be confident the offense remains in Rush's capable hands until Prescott returns, whether it's against the Rams or a little more down the line.

Dallas will look to push its winning streak to three when it hosts Washington at AT&T Stadium on Sunday.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence had a huge game in Monday's win over the New York Giants, and he took a victory lap on social media.

After finishing with six tackles and three sacks, Lawrence took to Twitter to troll Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James for his praise of Giants running back Saquon Barkley:

L https://t.co/TsS44siSlk

— DeMarcus Lawrence (@TankLawrence) September 27, 2022

James expressed his excitement after Barkley broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, which gave the Giants a 13-6 lead. But the Cowboys quickly erased the deficit and rattled off 17 straight points to put the game away.

Dallas will return to action Sunday with another NFC East matchup, this time against the Washington Commanders.

The New York Giants had the opportunity to make an impressive statement against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, but the team was let down by its offensive line in a 23-16 loss at MetLife Stadium.

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was under duress for most of the game, as the Cowboys sacked him five times. Jones finished the game 20-of-37 for 196 yards, no touchdowns and an interception on the team's final offensive drive. He also ran the ball nine times for 79 yards.

Entering this season, Jones was usually the culprit for New York's offensive woes because of his propensity for turnovers. But he played a clean game Monday up until the very end, so the loss was far from his fault.

Despite having a pair of first-round picks in tackles Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal, the Giants offensive line looked out of sorts throughout the night. It's hard to expect much from Jones when he's constantly facing pressure from the Dallas defense.

NFL Twitter ripped the Giants offensive line for its performance Monday, with some even expressing pity for Jones.

I honestly think Jones has been decent tonight. He's been running for his life all night and still making plays. https://t.co/VjvYHjq6R7

— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) September 27, 2022

Wow I feel bad for Daniel Jones, not sure he’s been able to set his feet once tonight in the pocket!

— Rich Gannon (@RichGannon12) September 27, 2022

Giants OLine pic.twitter.com/sHqd7WWNKh

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 27, 2022

Giants offensive line still trash smh What else is new?

— Khai 🎧🎶 (@khaisview) September 27, 2022

There’s no way the Giants finish above .500 with this offensive line play

— Dave Loughran (@Loughy_D) September 27, 2022

The pressure on Daniel Jones is insufferable. Going to be hard to survive like this. Two sacks and five pressures already. Still ... 3-3 #Giants #Cowboys

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 27, 2022

https://twitter.com/Kingkeraun/status/1574593561940533252

Stop panicking, Giants fans under 40. The offensive line will get fixed in your lifetime.

— Kevin Manahan (@KevinCManahan) September 27, 2022

Daniel Jones is going to need an ice bath tomorrow

— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) September 27, 2022

The Giants' offensive line tonight:pic.twitter.com/6UbvwtYxvm

— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) September 27, 2022

The Giants o line hates Daniel Jones

— Rob Markman 💭 (@RobMarkman) September 27, 2022

Giants interior line just getting mauled on pass pro. Fun.

— Scott Thompson (@ScottieTSports) September 27, 2022

Lawrence is making himself known tonight, giving the offensive line fits.

Offense is not awful to watch right now, but they are struggling to protect Jones and give him time to find anyone, also seems like Dallas has some nice coverage.

3-3

— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) September 27, 2022

Micha Parsons just wrecked the Giants right side of the offensive line on that third down play.

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) September 27, 2022

The Giants’ offensive linepic.twitter.com/7hFI3qs984

— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) September 27, 2022

Demarcus Lawrence just recorded his third sack of Daniel Jones. When asked about the #Giants offensive line during the week, Lawrence smiled and said, “We’ll be all right.”

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) September 27, 2022

https://twitter.com/M0townFanatic/status/1574578848611581963

Calling this giants offensive line 5 revolving doors is an insult to revolving doors, which people do occasionally get stuck in

— Thomas Viola 🦥 (@TVatWork) September 27, 2022

Now that the Giants are no longer undefeated, it should allow head coach Brian Daboll to reassess his approach. New York ran the ball just 25 times Monday, with Saquon Barkley leading the way with 81 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. A more concerted effort to commit to the running game could allow the Giants offensive line to develop more consistency.

New York (2-1) will have to figure things out quickly when it tries to bounce back Sunday against the Chicago Bears (2-1).

The New York Giants fear receiver Sterling Shepard suffered a season-ending knee injury near the end of Monday's 23-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, according to The Score's Jordan Schultz.

Schultz added the team is "preparing for the worst."

New York coach Brian Daboll didn't have an update on Shepard's injury after the game. He did, however, tell reporters that "it didn’t look good."

As Trevon Diggs picked off Daniel Jones to clinch the win for the Cowboys, Shepard went down with a non-contact injury away from the throw. He was in obvious pain and carted off the field, but only after a number of players from both teams surrounded him to offer their best wishes.

Cowboys and Giants players both huddled around Sterling Shepard after his injury 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/I5HlvC7vLs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 27, 2022

Shepard was New York's leading receiver in the game and finished with five catches for 49 yards.

The Oklahoma product has been with the Giants his entire career since they selected him with a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. While he has never been a game-changing No. 1 option, he has been largely solid with five seasons of more than 500 receiving yards, including when he posted 872 in 2018.

Yet durability has been a concern of late.

An Achilles injury limited him to just seven games last season, and he hasn't played more than 12 contests since the 2018 campaign. It appears he will miss more time this year after Monday's setback.

A prolonged absence for Shepard will likely put the Kenny Golladay situation even more in the spotlight given the need for another wide receiver to make up for the lost production.

Golladay has largely been a nonfactor this season and told reporters Wednesday: "I came here to play. I'm pretty sure they're also paying me to play. They want to see more I guess ... I really don't agree with it or like it. But I can only control what I can control, and that's coming to work every day."

Given Shepard's injury, he may have more of an opportunity to play for a 2-1 Giants team that could still be a contender in the NFC.

Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott is not ruling out making his return from a thumb injury in Week 4, when his team takes on the Washington Commanders.

Prescott told ESPN's Lisa Salters he could return in a "couple of weeks—and I'm counting this as one of them," adding that Week 4 is a possibility:

Dak Prescott told @saltersl he is not ruling out a return next week 👀 pic.twitter.com/466Rz4kYkP

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 27, 2022

ESPN's Todd Archer previously reported Prescott was scheduled to have his stitches removed from his surgically repaired thumb before Monday night's matchup at the New York Giants.

Per that report, "his return to action is predicated on his grip strength, but he is continuing to make progress."

Cooper Rush filled in for Prescott last week, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

That prompted team owner and general manager Jerry Jones to tell reporters he would love to see the backup play so well in Prescott's absence that he created a quarterback controversy once the incumbent was healthy again.

"Of course I would. Of course. That means we'd have won," Jones said. "If he comes in there and plays as well as Prescott played...Rush? Played that well over these next games ahead? I'd walk to New York to get that."

He continued:

Well, of course we want Dak to be here next week. That's the thing. You do. But Dak and I want Rush to lead the team to a victory here and get another win and get another win. That's the only way to look at it. Looking back when Dak was playing instead of Tony [Romo], it was game by game. It wasn't the long look we had after two months to look back. It was actually play by play, almost series by series. So do I think that it's possible for Rush to come in here and play at a level to win games the way Prescott did when he took over for Romo? Yes I do. Yes I do. I certainly think that's possible.

That, predictably, kicked up a firestorm of headlines and conversations. Of course, nobody believes that Rush would actually supplant the man in the second year of a four-year, $160 million contract. If anything, Rush's best outcome might be playing well enough to become a valuable trade chip for the Cowboys.

Head coach Mike McCarthy unsurprisingly confirmed that Prescott's job was never going to be in jeopardy.

"I'm just trying to say this with a straight face," he told reporters Friday. "Like anything, you look at the whole thing, it's about winning. That's all we really care about. There is no quarterback controversy. ... Dak is our starter."

"I think you need to be able to decipher between GM Jerry and owner Jerry," he added. "He can do that in like mid-sentence, too. I think you all need to do a better job of that. Get to work."

The question, of course, is when Prescott will actually return. On Sunday, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Prescott's earliest possible return date would be Oct. 16:

From @NFLGameDay: Still, the earliest #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott will be out there is 4 weeks from surgery. That #Eagles game on Oct. 16 would be a solid spot. pic.twitter.com/BEl9HoTOHp

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 25, 2022

However, it appears Prescott could be able to get back on the field even sooner.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup is "expected to be inactive" for Monday night's matchup against the New York Giants, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, while tight end Dalton Schultz is "unlikely" to play.

#Cowboys WR Michael Gallup is also expected to be inactive tonight against the #Giants, per source. His return from knee reconstruction will have to wait at least another week.

LB Micah Parsons, who barely practiced this week because of illness, is good to go. https://t.co/orvi1aYV4H

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 26, 2022

According to Jane Slater of NFL Network, Dallas is "hopeful" Gallup will be able to play in Week 4.

Gallup, 26, appeared in just nine games last year because of a calf injury and then a torn ACL. The Cowboys placed him on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp as he recovered from the latter issue.

Despite last season's setbacks, Dallas signed the wide receiver to a five-year, $62.5 million deal this offseason. That, along with the team's decision to trade Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns, seemed to indicate just how important the Colorado State product would be in the offense.

Gallup's best individual season came in 2019 when he posted 66 catches for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns.

Schultz, 26, appeared in the team's first two games, catching nine passes for 80 yards.

If both players remain out of commission, wideouts CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown will be Cooper Rush's top two options in the passing game.

The New York Giants could look to trade receiver Kenny Golladay if his production doesn't improve, although it would have nothing to do with his attitude, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

"Sources say Golladay has been great inside the building," Rapoport reported. "He does all the right things and has been a positive influence in the locker room."

The one-time Pro Bowler played just two snaps in New York's Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers, leading to criticism last week at practice.

"I came here to play," Golladay told reporters. "I'm pretty sure they're also paying me to play. They want to see more, I guess."

The 28-year-old is in his second season of a four-year, $72 million deal with the Giants. He tallied only 521 receiving yards on 37 catches with no touchdowns during his first year, and things have been even worse to start the 2022 campaign.

Through two games, Golladay has just two catches for 22 yards.

According to Rapoport, the only possibility for a trade would be if the Giants take on a majority of the wideout's salary while getting back only a late-round draft pick.

Golladay isn't forcing his way out, however, remaining professional despite the lack of playing time.

Head coach Brian Daboll actually praised the wideout's public comments for showing "competitiveness."

"Everybody in this building tells me I do everything the right way and be a pro at whatever I do," Golladay said Wednesday. "So it's a little confusing."

It seems if things don't change soon, the veteran could be on his way out of New York.

The Philadelphia Eagles used some special motivation ahead of their Week 3 win over the Washington Commanders.

Head coach Nick Sirianni showed the team a clip of the Netflix documentary "The Redeem Team" with Kobe Bryant during a pregame meeting Saturday night:

I’m told in Eagles team meeting last night, Nick Sirianni showed the Birds the new Kobe Bryant video with Team USA and Pau Gasol. The message was to be the ultimate competitor every second of the day.
pic.twitter.com/HLcJh4TbMt

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 25, 2022

It seemed to help as the Eagles dominated their NFC East rival, taking a 24-0 lead before finishing with a 24-8 win.

The clip featured Kobe—who grew up in Philadelphia and starred at Lower Merion in Montgomery County in high school—sending a message in Team USA's game against Spain, hitting friend and Lakers teammate Pau Gasol in the chest.

"No, he ain't my teammate right now," Bryant said at the time, as Carmelo Anthony recalled.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, faced Carson Wentz, the current Commanders quarterback who spent five years with the Eagles. Even if some on the team were still friendly with Wentz, it didn't show on the field as the squad finished with nine sacks and 17 quarterback hits.

It's also not the first time Sirianni has used Kobe, who tragically died in 2020, as a motivational tool for his team. The coach also showed a video of the Basketball Hall of Famer ahead of his first training camp in 2021.

With the Eagles off to a 3-0 start, the tactics appear to be working.