ARLINGTON, Texas — At the conclusion of the Dallas Cowboys’ final preseason game, a decision is looming. Will Garrett Gilbert or Cooper Rush win the Cowboys’ backup quarterback role behind Dak Prescott?
Throughout the offseason, the two have been somewhat of a revolving door. Gilbert had been the frontrunner to become Prescott’s understudy with most of the first-team reps throughout training camp while Prescott’s volume of throws gradually increased after he suffered a right shoulder strain on July 28th.
However, the tide turned on Saturday against the Texans in preseason Week 3. Gilbert struggled through two possessions and Rush came in gaining command/continuity. He led two touchdown drives and looked poised, garnering the notice of coaches. Rush then bypassed Gilbert on the depth chart and took first team reps during practice on Tuesday in preparation for the Jaguars.
Days later against Jacksonville, another shift. Gilbert surpassed Rush in the final bid for the No.2 role. Rush started the game and three failed possessions ensued. Gilbert did not showcase an exceptional display of athleticism by any means, but he did bring the Cowboys to the end zone, his first touchdown pass of the preseason. He marched the backup players on a 75-yard drive down the field, culminating in a touchdown pass to Aaron Parker.
“It’s part of the game, guys getting opportunities at different times,” Gilbert said. “I thought we did a nice job, got the offense kind of moving a little bit in the second quarter.”
Rush concluded the first quarter completing 4-8 for 16 yards. Gilbert finished the second quarter completing 9-16 for 87 yards and a touchdown. The output did not clarify the battle or produce an evident victor. Now, it is time to evaluate the full body of offseason work.
Head coach Mike McCarthy described, “That’s really what the next 48 hours will be. We’ll watch it as a staff tomorrow and then we’ll get together with Jerry [Jones] and Stephen [Jones] and Will [McClay] tomorrow afternoon and start the process.”
Both players will now enter the waiting game but are familiar with the process. Gilbert was drafted by the Rams in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft and had stints with multiple teams serving on the practice squad and participating in offseason programs, including the Patriots, Lions, Raiders and Panthers. Rush earned the backup role in 2017 with the Cowboys after signing as an undrafted free agent. A role he occupied through 2019.
Gilbert has more experience in the league, but Rush has a leg up on the competition in terms of familiarity with the Cowboys’ offensive system under Kellen Moore.
“Knowing Kellen this whole time, the same offense I feel like I can go in there and we cannot miss a beat schematically and run our stuff,” Rush told media following the 34-14 loss to Jacksonville. “That’s the job as a backup and that’s what you try to do.”
Now, the wait. Time will tell who lands the backup role in Dallas.
