The Dallas Cowboys are 3-5 entering their Week 10 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys’ chances of making the postseason look dire before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday’s 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Cooper Rush came into the game to replace Prescott after the All-Pro left in the third quarter. Rush went 13-of-25 passing for 115 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
The Dallas Cowboys could be without Dak Prescott for a while
Per The Athletic‘s Jon Machota, head coach Mike McCarthy did not specify how severe Prescott’s injury is during his press conference on Monday, but there is a possibility he could go on injured reserve.
“Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy did not get into specifics on Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury, but he said Dak will not be available this Sunday vs. Philadelphia,” Machota wrote. “There will be conversations about Dak possibly going on injured reserve.”
Following the loss to the Falcons, owner Jerry Jones appeared more open to the idea of attempting a trade before Tuesday’s deadline. Jones may want to beef up the quarterback room after Prescott’s injury.
Rush is 5-1 as a starter, but he wasn’t asked to do much in the six games he started. Rush has just nine touchdown passes in his four-year NFL career. Former San Francisco 49ers first-round pick Trey Lance, the Cowboys’ other backup, struggled with turnovers in the preseason.
Justin Fields to the Cowboys?
The Cowboys should decide to explore the trade market for a quarterback. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields could be a perfect quarterback for Dallas with Prescott sidelined. Prescott is expected to miss multiple weeks, if not longer.
Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 start at the beginning of the 2024 season until Russell Wilson returned from his calf injury. Fields went 106-of-160 passing for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He added 231 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Fields’ skillset could be good for an offense that only has one good wide receiver in CeeDee Lamb. And by the way, Lamb is dealing with an AC joint injury, so the Cowboys should be looking for options that will boost an anemic running offense that’s dead last in the league.
Fields would open up the open up opportunity for Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott to have running lanes, as the former first-round pick’s speed would take some of the defense’s focus.
The Cowboys could send the Steelers a Day 3 pick in exchange for Fields, and have a better chance to stay relevant in the NFC playoff chase until Prescott can return.