Should the New York Jets target a trade for Dallas Cowboys QB after Aaron Rodgers injury?

Following Aaron Rodgers’ injury to his Achilles on Monday night, the New York Jets will search for a new quarterback this week.

Backup Zach Wilson is not the answer in New York. He hasn’t been since he was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2021 draft.

He’s a marginal backup. At best. He has a career 8-14 record, throwing 16 touchdowns with 19 interceptions in 23 games. Certainly he likely learned a lot under Rodgers’ tutelage during training camp, but don’t let Monday night’s Jets’ overtime win fool you.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said it was a huge setback for Jets and the rest of the NFL. But especially a Jets team that came into the season with Super Bowl hopes.

“Well, I was sick for everybody,” Jones said. “Everybody, every sport, every sports fan. We’re all we’re sick about it. At the point it happened, I said that’s the life we have chosen, not for him, But for everybody that relies on the help of a quarterback. And it just reminded me of how fragile a season that can be.”

Should Jones and the Cowboys make proven backup Cooper Rush available? If so, at what price?

Rush proved in 2022 that he is a capable starter in the league, posting a 4-1 record as a starter when Dak Prescott was injured in the season-opening game (sound familiar, Rodgers’ fans?).

Rush has eight touchdown passes with four interceptions in 20 career games.

Jones has done crazier things (see trading for QB Trey Lance in this preseason without telling his head coach or starting quarterback). Is Lance a worthy backup to Prescott if Jones decides to entertain offers from the Jets for Rush?

He’s not. Lance has been in the Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s system for only a few weeks. His role is clearly to sit, watch and learn this season. Then, maybe be the backup in 2024 after Rush leaves in free agency.

The former Central Michigan quarterback went undrafted, but signed with the Cowboys as a free agent in 2017.

If Rush is traded and Prescott is injured, then the Cowboys’ chances of ending their 28-year Super Bowl drought is quite unlikely.

That’s the main reason why Jones should not accept any calls from the Jets this week.

And Jones agrees, although his comment is a bit difficult to completely understand.

“The facts are . . . we can need Rush in a play and did last year and did the year before,” Jones said. “When you got all the promise we got to compromise yourself with depth at that position would be very unlikely.”