In a vacuum, it's easy to understand why the Dallas Cowboys named Cooper Rush the starter for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. It wasn't so much that Rush won the backup job before the season, but that Trey Lance didn't do enough to earn the job.
The Cowboys are trying to sell hope to fans that they can still compete even though Dak Prescott likely needs season-ending surgery on his hamstring, which is partially torn.
While Dallas apparently has a package for Lance that may be put into action, Lance should have started the game.
Well, the organization might already regret deferring to the veteran Rush after Rush fumbled a shotgun snap on the offense's second drive of the game. The Eagles recovered and quickly turned the short field into a touchdown for an early 7-0 lead.
Cooper Rush already proving the Cowboys should've started Trey Lance
The @Eagles defense recovers the fumbled snap!
— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024
📺: #PHIvsDAL on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/6XzL46Sepx
As far as quarterback turnovers go, that is as bad as it gets. It is made worse by the fact that Dallas' defense had just come up with a huge stop.
After the Cowboys punted on their opening drive, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who's already made a handful of plays in the game, and edge rusher Carl Lawson sacked Jalen Hurts on back-to-back plays to force a punt.
Rush's fumble took the air out of AT&T Stadium. This team struggled mightily playing from behind when Prescott was healthy. They were touchdown underdogs for a reason. Giving the Eagles a short field is exactly what you wouldn't expect for an eight-year pro.
READ MORE: Jerry Jones delivers even more bad news about Dak Prescott's injury
Rush has taken care of the football in five career starts. If he's not going to do that, Lance might as well be under center. With Prescott out for the foreseeable future, the remainder of the season should be about evaluating the roster for 2025.
Rush and Lance are both on expiring contracts. Being that Lance has much more upside relative to the 30-year-old - and cost a fourth-round pick - the the Cowboys need to find out if he can be an adequate backup.
That is the only way to salvage trading for Lance, which has aged as poorly as the front office could have imagined.
While there are eight games left on the schedule after today, Rush isn't giving the front office any reason to think he can save the season. It makes all the sense in the world to give Lance the rest of the campaign to prove he has a future as Prescott's backup.