Dallas Cowboys

To hear Dallas Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones tell it, quarterback Dak Prescott may be back from his broken thumb as soon as a Week 4 game against the Washington Commanders.

Jones addressed the quarterback's status during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan:

"I don't know that anybody knows [when he'll be back]. But when he [gets enough strength in his hand], then you'll probably see some real advancement in his timeline. I don't know when that is but I do know that with a good airing out last week, everybody recognizes that he'll be back sooner than later as far as the timeline. It really could be a minimum of two weeks up here in my mind [Washington in Week 4]. Now, that's very optimistic. But he's got the kind of repair there that will allow him to not have a lot of fear of re-injuring it. It's just a question of the grip."

There has been no shortage of optimism from Jones when it comes to Prescott's status, but he isn't the only one who suggested the Washington game as a potential return date.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that the Mississippi State product could come back by Week 4 at "the very best" even while pointing out there is still some uncertainty following the surgery he underwent for the injury he suffered during a Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dallas decided not to put Prescott on injured reserve even though ESPN's Todd Archer reported the initial timeline was expected to be six to eight weeks.

While Prescott is a two-time Pro Bowler who threw for 4,449 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year, the Cowboys at least have a solid insurance policy in Cooper Rush. Rush won his only start last season against the Minnesota Vikings and led the team to a 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

He went 19-of-31 passing for 235 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions, directing touchdown drives on each of the team's first two possessions and moving them into field-goal range in crunch time after Cincinnati came back to tie it.

Brett Maher made the 50-yard field goal as time expired, putting the Cowboys into the win column for the first time this season.

Dallas will ask Rush to do the same at least one more time during a Week 3 game against the New York Giants before Prescott may be ready to return.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup is "trending toward" making his 2022 NFL season debut in Week 3 against the New York Giants, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

Head coach Mike McCarthy discussed Gallup's continued recovery from a torn ACL Monday.

"We’re going to try to give him a full slate this week," he told reporters.

Gallup was hurt in Dallas' penultimate game of the 2021 regular season. The timing and severity of his injury left him in a race against the clock to be ready for Week 1.

In March, executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged the 26-year-old would likely be out for the first two or three games. By July, Gallup said it was "not a reasonable possibility" to expect him to be on the field for the opener.

The Cowboys sorely need the 26-year-old, whenever he's finally given the green light.

Dallas did little to replace Amari Cooper, which has left a clear void in the passing game. And after two weeks, its starting quarterback and starting tight end have already suffered injuries.

Dak Prescott is recuperating from thumb surgery, which has a four-to-six-week recovery timeline. According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Dalton Schultz is also battling a "PCL issue" in his right knee.

Gallup will have to be eased back into the offense a bit, but any help he can provide will benefit the passing attack.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz reportedly avoided a worst-case scenario regarding the knee injury he sustained on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he's not out of the woods yet.

According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Schultz is dealing with an injury to his PCL and it's "unclear" at this point if it will cause him to miss time.

Archer pointed out that Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was bothered by a PCL issue last season, though he still managed to play in all 17 games and rush for 1,002 yards with 10 touchdowns.

Schultz recorded two receptions for 18 yards before suffering the injury late in the fourth quarter. He was unable to take the field for Dallas' final offensive drive that set up a game-winning 50-yard field goal by Brett Maher that gave the team a 20-17 victory.

Schultz, who now has seven catches for 62 yards with no touchdowns through the first two games of the year, established himself as a reliable option in the Cowboys passing attack last season when he posted career highs of 78 catches, 808 yards and eight touchdowns. However, the 26-year-old was unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal during the offseason and is playing the 2022 season on a one-year franchise tag, which is worth $10.9 million.

The Cowboys are already dealing with injuries to multiple key players in the early part of the season. Quarterback Dak Prescott is out after undergoing thumb surgery. Receivers James Washington (foot) and Michael Gallup (knee) have yet to take the field this year. Left tackle Tyron Smith is expected to miss months due to a hamstring injury.

Dallas will hope to bring the momentum of Sunday's win into next week's game against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.

The Dallas Cowboys remain optimistic Dak Prescott can return by Week 4 or 5.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday on 105.3 The Fan's The K&C Masterpiece that Prescott is "absolutely out" for Dallas' upcoming clash with the New York Giants after having undergone thumb surgery.

However, his return could come the following week.

"I think the very best it would be would be Washington or the Rams," Jones said.

"We just won't know until we get closer to really give an educated guess. Right now, I will say this, so far everything has gone his way. From the surgery to the swelling after the surgery [that] was very minimal compared to what it can be. We're just optimistic about it."

ESPN's Todd Archer initially reported Prescott was expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. However, team owner Jerry Jones said the team wasn't placing the two-time Pro Bowler on injured reserve, pointing toward a potentially earlier return date.

The Cowboys saw what life is like without Prescott for an extended stretch when they finished 6-10 in 2020. He suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the fifth game of the season, forcing Dallas to lean on Andy Dalton as the primary replacement and the pair of Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert as spot starters.

So far, the sky isn't falling in North Texas. Cooper Rush went 19-of-31 for 235 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Still, the 28-year-old doesn't inspire a ton of confidence, nor does the Cowboys' performance through two weeks dispel the concerns that were raised following an uneventful offseason. Dallas lost a few key players, most notably Amari Cooper and Randy Gregory, and did little to address those losses.

If Prescott does wind up getting back in time to play the Washington Commanders on Oct. 2 or the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 9, then the team might be able to tread water long enough. Should his recovery extend into late October or early November, his absence could derail what was already a tricky road back to the playoffs.

It may not be a great sign when fans are going above and beyond to celebrate a Week 2 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Following the Dallas Cowboys' 20-17 win Sunday, one fan apparently decided it was an occasion that warranted riding his horse through a Walmart.

To be fair, Cowboys fans have to take what they can get considering this is already shaping up to be a lost season.

Dallas encountered a reality check with its 19-3 Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and saw starting quarterback Dak Prescott lost for potentially a month because of a thumb injury.

Prescott's replacement, Cooper Rush, played well enough Sunday. Rush finished 19-of-31 for 235 yards and one touchdown, and he got the offense in position for Brett Maher's game-winning field goal as time expired.

But Dallas is still facing a difficult road to playoff contention based on how the first two weeks have unfolded.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz is reportedly set to undergo an MRI after suffering a knee injury late in Sunday's 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, there is "no concern" about the structure of Schultz's ACL, but the MRI will reveal more clarity.

Schultz recorded two catches for 18 yards prior to exiting the game. He was forced to sit out Dallas' final offensive drive that set up a game-winning 50-yard field goal by Brett Maher. He now has seven receptions for 62 yards with no touchdowns through the first two games of the season.

The 26-year-old is playing the 2022 season on a one-year franchise tag, which is worth $10.9 million. Schultz skipped the voluntary portion of the Cowboys' offseason program before reporting for mandatory minicamp and training camp. He had a career year in 2021, posting 78 catches for 808 yards and eight touchdowns while playing in all 17 games.

An injury to Schultz would be the latest blow to a Cowboys team that already has a depleted offense. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott underwent thumb surgery and will not be back anytime soon. Dallas lost wide receiver James Washington to a fractured foot during training camp. Wideout Michael Gallup is still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last season. Starting left tackle Tyron Smith is out until at least December with a hamstring injury.

The Cowboys hope to have Schultz in the lineup when they return to action next week against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.

The Dallas Cowboys are hoping quarterback Dak Prescott makes a speedy recovery from his thumb injury, but they appeared to find an adequate replacement in Cooper Rush, who led them to a 20-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters that Prescott's return will be depend on his ability to grip a football, but he was very impressed with Rush.

"He exceeded my expectations," Jones said. "The performance out here by Rush sure takes a lot of angst out of it."

Rush played a fairly clean game Sunday, completing 19 of 31 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. He engineered 75-yard touchdown drives on the Cowboys' first two possessions after they failed to reach the end zone in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He then led Dallas down the field with under a minute left in the fourth quarter to set up the game-winning 50-yard field goal by Brett Maher.

The 28-year-old is now 2-0 as a starter in his five-year career. It was Rush's first start since Oct. 31 last year when he led the Cowboys to a win over the Minnesota Vikings while filling in for Prescott, who was out with a strained calf at the time.

While Jones praised Rush for his effort, he added that it won't have an effect on the timeline for Prescott's return this year. The team didn't place him on injured reserve, as Jones said last week that there's an expectation that he could be back within the next four games despite the original recovery timeline of six to eight weeks.

For now, the Cowboys appear to be in good hands while they have to rely on Rush. Dallas will take on the NFC East-rival New York Giants on Monday Night Football next week.

What a moment for Cooper Rush.

It was easy to write the Dallas Cowboys off after they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and saw quarterback Dak Prescott suffer a fractured thumb in Week 1, but the backup quarterback did just enough to lead his side to a 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday's contest.

Rush impressed at 19-of-31 passing for 235 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions and led the team into field-goal range at the end, but Brett Maher still had to play the role of hero and make the 50-yarder as time expired.

He did just that, and social media had plenty of praise for Rush as he improved to 2-0 as a starter after also defeating the Minnesota Vikings last season:

Rush wasted no time making an impact, leading 75-yard touchdown drives on each of the Cowboys' first two possessions. He showed an immediate chemistry with Noah Brown—who had five catches for 91 yards and a touchdown—and Tony Pollard also ran for a touchdown.

It wasn't all Rush, as the Dallas defense came through for much of the game even after the offense stalled following the hot start. The Cowboys sacked Joe Burrow six times and pressured him even more with Micah Parsons and Dorance Armstrong leading a strong effort along the defensive front.

The offensive line was a major problem for the Bengals last season even as they advanced to the Super Bowl, and that appears to be the case again in 2022.

Yet the mood is far more celebratory in Dallas thanks to Rush and the defense. The backup quarterback will look to keep things rolling in Week 3 against the New York Giants.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed confidence quarterback Cooper Rush can keep the team's offense afloat while Dak Prescott recovers from a thumb injury.

Jones discussed his expectations for the Cowboys following the QB change during an appearance Friday on KRLD's K&C Masterpiece (via the Dallas Morning News).

"First of all, I think Rush is up to the task of winning ball games for us, and I think he certainly has had a lot of experience in this offense," Jones said. "He and [offensive coordinator] Kellen Moore have been joined at the hip for a long time. So, I like who we're lining up out there to give us a start right there."

ESPN's Todd Archer reported the initial return timetable for Prescott, who underwent surgery Monday, was six to eight weeks, but Dallas hasn't placed him on injured reserve with hope he could return at some point within the next four games.

Jones reiterated Friday the Cowboys are focused on internal improvement while their franchise quarterback is sidelined. He explained that stance was solidified during a conversation with an unnamed NFL coach, who told him the "answer is from within."

"You got to do a little bit better," Jones said. "Everybody steps up and is a little bit better, and you realize at the end of the day that this was a team game and that everybody, all 40 of them, had to go out there and step their game up."

Rush has made 11 NFL appearances (one start) since the Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He spent his first three years in Dallas (2017-19) before getting claimed off waivers by the New York Giants in May 2020. He returned to America's Team in October 2020.

The 28-year-old Michigan native has completed 38 of his 63 throws (60.3 percent) for 488 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the NFL.

His only start came in Week 8 last season, when he threw for 325 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 20-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Rush said Thursday he thinks the unit is prepared for Sunday's home game against the reigning AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.

"I think it's more about the teammates. All you do every day is want to earn their respect," Rush told reporters. "To go out there on Sunday, that's the best way to do it. Go play well. They have my respect. I think they respect me. I think we've got a good group. I think we're ready to roll."

The Cowboys and Bengals each lost in Week 1, so there's pressure on both sides to get back on the right track before digging too much of an early-season hole.

Dallas' hopes will rest heavily on Rush building off his strong performance last season, especially if Prescott ends up missing around two months.