NOVEMBER 9, 1:36PM: In an interesting decision, the Cowboys have elected not to place Prescott on injured reserve today. According to Ian Rapoport, they have only submitted their standard gameday practice squad elevations today, deciding not to make a transaction for their injured quarterback.
While this does leave open the possibility that Prescott may not need to miss four weeks, allowing him to return earlier, it could hinder a comeback, as well. If Prescott is, indeed, still headed for IR, and the Cowboys wait until after tomorrow’s game to make the move, it will delay his return one week more than it would be if they made the move today.
NOVEMBER 8, 4:00PM: Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that the team is planning to put Prescott on injured reserve on an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Prescott will be sidelined for at least the Cowboys’ next four games, though Jones indicated that the team is not sure how long his absence will last.
“Right now, I don’t think anyone knows whether it will be four weeks, six weeks or the season. We’ll just have to continue to monitor that and see where it takes us,” said Jones on Friday.
NOVERMBER 8, 12:38PM: The hamstring injury which left Dak Prescott sidelined for the end of the Cowboys’ Week 9 contest will lead to missed time. It remains to be seen if season-ending surgery will be required, but the quarterback’s preference would be to avoid it. 
“He doesn’t want surgery,” owner Jerry Jones said of Prescott during a Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Jon Machota of The Athletic). “He wants to be on the field and go for it. We’ll just see how it goes here.”
Nevertheless, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports the Cowboys plan to move Prescott to injured reserve today or tomorrow. That move will ensure at least a four-game absence and leave the team shorthanded on offense while attempting to return to playoff contention. Sitting at 3-5 on the year, Dallas’ postseason prospects were already in question, but shutting Prescott down for a notable stretch would hurt them even more.
Updates from earlier in the week pointed to an IR move, so it would come as no surprise if Dallas ultimately takes that route. Provided the team does so, Cooper Rush will be in position to handle QB1 duties with Trey Lance being elevated to the status of backup. The latter is not under consideration to serve as the Cowboys’ starter at this point, something which is signficant since both signal-callers are pending free agents. Rush has made six starts and 30 appearances in his career, all with the Cowboys.
The 30-year-old’s most recent run atop the depth chart came in 2022, when he logged five starts in place of an injured Prescott. Rush went 4-1 in those contests, although he managed only 116.8 passing yards per game during that span while throwing five touchdowns and three interceptions. Improved efficiency through the air will be critical over the coming weeks for Rush and the offense given Dallas’ lack of success on the ground this season.
Considering Prescott’s $60MM-per-year extension signed this offseason, a cautious approach on the team’s part would be sensible. That is especially true given Dallas’ record and steep path to the playoffs as things stand. As Jones noted, however, more time will likely need to elapse before a final decision is made with respect to surgery. As Rush prepares to take over for the foreseeable future, Prescott’s health status remains uncertain.
Dak ‘We F..ing suck’. Yep!
Well…no sense in trying to win any more games this season. Playing for that sweet top 5 draft pick now!
If that was truly their plan they’d go with Lance.
I think that both QBs provide them equal opportunities to be terrible.
It will be interesting to see if Parsons can return and ignite a spark for this defense and team? If Rush struggles, maybe Lance can finally get his chance?
Lance finally get a chance??
He played preseason and entire games, he was trash against practice squad guys and ones not even on teams.
Cowboy fan here
What does it matter put him on IR…. This team is picking on the top. 8 they aint making the playoffs. If they were smart they would play lance too
I think they might want to try and recoup some value out of Lance by trading him to another team. If they play him and the rest of the league sees how bad he is, there will be no value left.
My mistake! I thought he had another year! Time flies when you are terrible. Lance has earned over $34 million in his career! What a world!
You just don’t know about the kid. Give him 6-7 games here if he stinks we pick top 5.
I think that the people who watch him practice everyday know something about “the kid”. So did the 49ers.
So in absolute Jerry Jones fashion the Cowboys give up a fourth round draft pick for Lance and then decide not to play him at all and he walks away at the end of the season. The Cowboys have nothing to lose by playing Lance because they aren’t going to be anywhere close to a playoff spot so they might as well see if he could be serviceable as a backup in the future…Death by Jerry