The Dallas Cowboys are aware that the 2025 season will be closely scrutinized. Had it not been for injuries, fans would have expected Dallas to challenge for the Super Bowl in 2024. However, with Dak Prescott missing half the season and posting a 3-5 record in the eight games he played, it left the fan base feeling uncertain.
Now, one of their former starters has secured a significant contract with an AFC contender.
For eight seasons (2017-2024), Cooper Rush served as Dak Prescott’s backup. That has now changed:
Rush has signed a two-year contract worth up to $12.2 million, including $4.2 million guaranteed, with the Baltimore Ravens, where he will back up two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, according to ESPN. Rush’s agency, Equity Sports, has confirmed the deal.
Why would Rush leave Dallas after all these years? One possible reason is the perceived lack of respect from the Cowboys toward him at the end of the 2024 season.
After starting every game for Dallas following Prescott’s season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons, the team chose to start Trey Lance in Week 18. This decision coincidentally prevented Rush from triggering a contract clause that would have added an extra $250,000 to his salary.
During his eight starts for the Cowboys between Weeks 10-17, Rush completed 61.3% of his passes, averaging 209.6 yards per game. Despite an 11-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio during that span, he ranked 25th out of 32 qualified quarterbacks in passer rating.
Previously, Tyler Huntley and Josh Johnson were Baltimore’s backup quarterbacks to Jackson. With Rush now gone and Lance still a free agent, the only quarterbacks left on the Cowboys’ roster are Prescott and journeyman Will Grier. Prescott, who will be 32 years old by the start of the 2025 season, will likely be backed up by one of Dallas’ 10 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
