Cooper Rush a surprise, but Dak Prescott is the Dallas Cowboys franchise: Jerry Jones

Owner Jerry Jones loves what Cooper Rush has done as Dallas Cowboys quarterback, leading them to three straight wins to keep them in the thick of the NFC East title chase when most thought the season was over when franchise quarterback Dak Prescott went down with a fractured right thumb in the season opener.

What Rush has done is beyond Jones’ wildest dreams and has had some doozies over the years that he has shared publicly and privately.

But Jones’ excitement over Rush’s play hasn’t made him forget that the team’s foundation remains Prescott, the highest paid player in franchise history who is in the second year of a four-year, $160 million deal.

“I think everybody should feel like I feel, and that is that Rush gives us a chance,” Rush said. “We certainly know Dak, as we look to the future, Dak is an ingredient to our success that’s really a must. So we all understand that.

“The first thing that happened when Dak went down that early literally after the first game, I thought, ‘Oh, have we shortchanged ourselves? Have we really got this quarterback thing addressed?’ So I’ll tell you this: He’s answered any apprehension I had about our ability to go out here and compete.”

Now the question becomes, how long will Rush’s run last?

He became the first quarterback in franchise history to win his first four career starts with the 25-10 victory against Washington on Sunday. Rush is 3-0 in 2022 after going 1-0 in his first career start last season.

While Prescott and the Cowboys have long targeted next Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Rams as a likely return date, Jones said Prescott’s status remains up in the air.

The game at the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 16 is the more likely possibility.

Although he had the stitches in his hand removed last Monday, Prescott has yet to throw a pass with any velocity.

“I can’t give you anything there medically,” Jones said. “I don’t think anyone knows how he’s going to grip the ball. I really don’t know that I’d call that throwing what he’s doing. But he’s certainly got movement.

“I wouldn’t know if he’s throwing at a level that you could say the grip and everything is effectively is a good throw, a good, normal passing throw.”

Jones said Prescott will work in practice with the team like he did last week, going through drills and doing some light tosses, but he wouldn’t predict what he needed to show in practice to determine his playing status.

“I don’t know. I really don’t know,” Jones said. “He does need to grip and control the ball. I don’t know if that is going to happen or not.”

The Rams game is 28 days since the date of his surgery. Bones usually take 4-6 weeks to heal.

But Jones said Prescott’s return is not predicated on a fully healed bone because of where the break was and because of the plate that was inserted into his hand.

“Because of the nature of the way they repaired it you don’t have to have a fully healed bone,” he said.

Rush is just appreciative of the opportunity and will continue to enjoy the ride as long as it lasts.

“You just enjoy playing ball,” Rush said. “Like you say, you don’t get to start every week as a backup. That’s why when you’re in there, you just want to do your job. You really enjoy it. It’s fun being with those guys. We have a heckuva team. Great locker room. So you cherish it all. When your number’s called you just keep playing.

“Since you were a little kid you want to start in the NFL. So to be able to do that for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoons is pretty awesome.”

Jones can’t wait for Prescott to return.

But he is comforted by Rush and a dream scenario that rivals the time he said he made a deal with the devil for the Cowboys to win their last Super Bowl in 1995.

“I move those around a little,” Jones said with a laugh. “It feels good to know that Rush is playing at this level. I couldn’t have asked for what he is doing. That would have been just too much.”