Who is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush? And why is he starting against the Bengals?

The Dallas Cowboys were the NFL's top offense in 2021 but "America's Team" made several changes to the unit in the offseason.

Amari Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns. Cedrick Wilson signed with the Miami Dolphins. And former Pro Bowl right tackle La'el Collins became a Cincinnati Bengal after the Cowboys released him this spring.

But all was supposed to be OK because star quarterback Dak Prescott was still under center.

That didn't even last for the first four quarters of the 2022 season.

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Prescott broke his thumb on Sunday and had surgery on Monday. He will miss the game against the Bengals in Week 2.

His replacement? That would be Cooper Rush. Here's what to know about the 28-year-old backup.

Cooper Rush has been in the NFL since 2017

Rush went undrafted out of Central Michigan in 2017 and signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He competed with his now offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for a roster spot before eventually joining the practice squad. He became the back-up quarterback midway through 2017 and remained in that role through the 2019 season.

At Central Michigan, Rush earned second-and-third-team All-MAC honors in 2015 and 2016. He threw for 12,891 yards and 90 touchdowns from 2013-2016. He was just 12 yards short of passing Dan LeFevour's program record for passing yards.

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Cooper Rush was waived by the Dallas Cowboys to make room for Andy Dalton

After the 2019 season, Rush signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys. But when the Bengals drafted Joe Burrow No. 1 overall that spring and let Andy Dalton go, Rush was out of the job. The Cowboys signed Dalton to be Prescott's backup and Rush was picked up by the New York Giants, who had hired former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett as their offensive coordinator.

He spent most of 2020 on the Giants' practice squad.

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Cooper Rush returns to Dallas

The Cowboys signed Rush to their practice squad on Oct. 31, 2020 after Prescott suffered a season-ending injury and Dalton became the starter for the rest of the season. He joined the active roster a week later and served as Prescott's backup for all of 2021.

Has Cooper Rush ever started a game for the Dallas Cowboys?

Rushed started in Week 8 of the 2021 season against the Minnesota Vikings after Prescott suffered a calf injury. He threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing the go-ahead score to Cooper in the final minute of a 20-16 win.

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Dallas released Cooper Rush in August

Rush was released on Aug. 30, but was re-signed the next day to the practice squad. In some NFL roster maneuvering, Rush was always going to be on the active roster for the Cowboys and he was activated before Week 1 of the season.

How many games has Cooper Rush played in?

The game against Bengals will be Rush's 12th career appearance. he had thrown for 488 yards and three touchdowns in his career.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cooper Rush will be the Dallas Cowboys quarterback vs. Bengals