For the first time in five years, the Dallas Cowboys will not start the season with Cooper Rush as their backup quarterback. The Cowboys finally decided to move on from the veteran signal-caller this spring as Rush signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
Most Cowboys fans were already feeling like the team upgraded their QB2 with the Joe Milton signing, but Rush’s start to the preseason further bolstered this view. While Milton had his own foibles in his preseason debut with the Cowboys, his higher upside over Rush is undeniable.
Cooper Rush’s Tenure with New Team Off to a Rocky Start
Rush’s preseason got off to a rocky start when he threw an interception on his first preseason pass against the Indianapolis Colts. The 31-year-old QB didn’t get much of a chance to recover from the mistake as he played a total of 12 snaps before getting benched in favor of Devin Leary. He finished the game with 16 passing yards on four attempts.
Fortunately for the former Cowboys backup, Leary didn’t fare much better against the Colts. Baltimore’s sixth-round pick from last season played a total of 50 snaps on Thursday and went 3/12 for 43 yards and an interception. He received a team-worst 31.2 grade on PFF for his performance.
Due to the lack of other viable options in Baltimore, Rush is pretty much set as the QB2 for the Ravens. He has decent starting experience compared to most backups, having gone 9-5 in 14 starts during his Cowboys tenure. Yet, there is a reason the Cowboys let him walk in favor of a less proven option.
The Ravens will desperately hope that Lamar Jackson doesn’t suffer any injuries as they chase the Super Bowl win that has eluded them in recent years. Rush could keep them afloat for brief stretches, but his ceiling is too low for Ravens fans to feel great about their chances in any game without Lamar Jackson.
Rush will get a chance to show what his former team gave up on as the Ravens take on the Cowboys on Saturday for both teams’ second preseason outing. The veteran QB will almost certainly get plenty of opportunities under center, while the Cowboys will look to get a better performance out of Milton.
