Who is Dak Prescott's backup? Cowboys QB depth chart explored

The Dallas Cowboys' dismal campaign was dealt another disheartening blow, as Dak Prescott is seemingly set to miss the rest of the 2024 season. The quarterback suffered a hamstring injury in their 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9 and was initially expected to miss a few weeks of action.

However, according to league insider Adam Schefter, the 31-year-old has decided to have a season-ending surgery to fix his partially torn hamstring. He's yet to set a date for the procedure, as he's seeking a final opinion. Nevertheless, he's set to miss a few games, even if he postpones the surgery until the offseason.

With Dak Prescott out and the trade window shut, the Cowboys will have to sign a free agent or rely on the quarterbacks on their roster to save their season, which seems to be their most likely course of action.

---

Cowboys depth chart: Who will replace Dak Prescott?

Veteran Cooper Rush is the second quarterback on the Cowboys' depth chart and will likely be the starter until Dak Prescott returns from injury. The 31-year-old has spent his entire seven-year NFL career as a backup in Dallas and has done an admirable job when called up.

He played most of the final quarter in the Cowboys' loss to the Falcons and finished with 115 passing and one passing touchdown. He also rushed once for four yards.

Rush has started six games for the Cowboys and has a 5-1 record. His last start came during the 2022 campaign, his busiest year in Dallas. He started five games while Prescott was nursing a thumb injury and led them to four wins.

As long as he remains healthy, he will be the starter. If he doesn't play well or suffers an injury, Dallas will defer to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance.

The 24-year-old last played in the 2022 NFL season and has never played a down for the Cowboys. Last year, the franchise parted ways with their fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to acquire the young quarterback.

So far, it's shaping up to be a terrible deal for Dallas. However, if Rush struggles and the team opts to give Lance a shot, he could use it to revive his career. He's in the final year of his rookie deal and will be a free agent in the offseason. He's desperate for an opportunity to extend his career, but will only get it if Rush doesn't play up to par.