What started out as a rollercoaster season for the Dallas Cowboys has quickly morphed into a stomach-churning downward descent. Already navigating a cavalcade of injuries, Dallas' woes worsened when Dak Prescott was forced from Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons with a hamstring injury.
After undergoing an MRI, Prescott is expected to miss several weeks. It is highly possible that Prescott, who is currently seeking a second opinion, ends up on injured reserve. That would knock him out a minimum of four games and set up a potential Week 14 return against the Bengals on Monday Night Football.
In the meantime, the Cowboys will turn to backup Cooper Rush, who was announced as the temporary starter. Rush faces a tall task of keeping Dallas afloat while Prescott heals. Most of Cowboys Nation wanted Trey Lance to get the nod but there is still plenty of time this season for the former No. 3 overall pick to see the field.
It's difficult to feel any optimism toward the franchise right now, but there's a hidden silver lining to Dak's injury that is worth holding onto.
#Cowboys QB Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury was worse than initially feared. He is expected to miss multiple weeks, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 4, 2024
In fact, this is not looking like a short-term injury. Cooper Rush is the team’s backup. pic.twitter.com/de1R3WSOxy
Dak Prescott's injury could lead to Cowboys firing Mike McCarthy
This is shaping up to be Dallas' worst season since 2020, when they had a similar injury crisis and roster deficiencies. That was ironically McCarthy's first season as head coach. That the Cowboys are starting Rush hints they aren't ready to wave the white flag on the season.
In other words, Jerry and Stephen Jones still intend to compete. Their standards for the team, at least publicly, have not changed despite Prescott going on the shelf.
Jerry Jones said after Sunday's loss that he has "some things in the mill" regarding the NFL trade deadline, which is Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT. Stephen Jones appeared on 105.3 The Fan on Monday and said he "wouldn't rule it out" in terms of adding players before the deadline.
That should send a clear message to McCarthy about the organizations' expectations in light of Prescott's injury.
That the Cowboys struggled to win games with Prescott under center - even though he wasn't playing at a high level - suggests they could bottom out.
They still have two games left against the Commanders (7-2) and Eagles (6-2). They play the 6-3 Texans in two weeks who will likely have star receiver Nico Collins back. They also have the playoff-hopeful Bengals and Buccaneers on the schedule.
How many wins are in there? Not many, that's for sure.
It's obvious the Cowboys need to overhaul their coaching staff. While a major quarterback injury would normally buy a head coach a little more time, Prescott's injury shouldn't have any influence on McCarthy's future.
That is definitely worth holding onto.