The Dallas Cowboys entered their Week 10 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles with veteran quarterback Cooper Rush getting the start. The Cowboys announced this weekend that Dak Prescott would be out for the season due to a hamstring issue that required surgery to repair. Rush came in to relieve Prescott following his injury in the Cowboys’ 27-21 loss to the Falcons in Week 9. Rush made six previous starts for the Cowboys in his seven seasons with the team. The 30-year-old is 5-1 overall as a starter and has thrown nine touchdowns to six interceptions in his career.
The Cowboys’ offense struggled early against the Eagles. Rush would go 12-of-22 for 43 yards through three quarters before head coach Mike McCarthy decided to shake things up with the Eagles leading 28-6. The Cowboys brought in quarterback Trey Lance for a play. The former first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers ran for four yards. Rush returned under center for the rest of the drive–which ended with a lost fumble by Rush after he completed one more pass for two yards.
Lance would return to play quarterback on the Cowboys’ next offensive drive in the fourth quarter with Dallas trailing 31-6. Rush completed two passes for 17 yards, but a fumble by tight end Jake Ferguson gave the ball back to the Eagles. Fans on social media criticized McCarthy for how he handled the quarterback situation on Sunday. Some fans thought Lance should have been put in the game earlier. Other fans didn’t understand teasing Lance for one play.
“Should’ve done it in the 1st quarter,” wrote a fan. “Thanks for getting my hopes up,” wrote another, after Rush returned. “Wait so the Cowboys yanked Cooper Rush, put Trey Lance in for a few plays, put Rush back in, and Rush fumbled the ball away deep in his own territory,” asked a frustrated fan. “Do I have that right? Did I just see that happen with my own two eyes?” “The level of trolling from the Dallas Cowboys to use Trey Lance for JUST TWO PLAYS when it looked like he was fully taking over, wow I am impressed They hate their fans almost as much as their fans hate them,” posted another.
“No reason why Trey Lance shouldn’t start,” commented a fan. “Starting Cooper Rush Over Trey Lance in the first place was majorly diabolical,” suggested another.
