Cowboys Get Good News on Dak Prescott, Not Expected to Trade for QB

The Dallas Cowboys got some good news regarding Dak Prescott’s potential future availability and it looks like they will not be seeking a quarterback in trade.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on Tuesday that the initial eight-week diagnosis for the reported hamate fracture and ligament damage to Prescott’s throwing thumb was actually a bit pessimistic and he’s expecting Prescott back sooner than that. Jones also said that the Cowboys will not put Prescott on the four-game minimum short-term injured reserve list.

“We think that he can come in and play, so we don’t want to not have him out there practicing,” Jones said to 105.3 The Fan. “We want him getting prepared and we’ll see how he handles this thing, how it heals. Mainly his strength, how he can grip the ball (will determine) what his status is. That’s not being an optimist. The proof is that we’ve got a good surgery, got good technique and feel better about it than we did Sunday night.”

Backup Cooper Rush has never started an NFL game, but with limited time to get another quarterback onto the team and familiar with the system, Rush would expect to start at least in Week 2, even if the Cowboys made a trade. If Jones doesn’t think Prescott is even assured of missing four weeks, then adding a quarterback at significant cost for one or two games doesn’t seem likely. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported late on Tuesday morning that the Cowboys are not, at this point, pursing a “significant” trade for a quarterback.

Even if Rush starts, the Cowboys will still need a backup. Former West Virginia starter Will Grier is on the team’s practice squad and is a possibility to be elevated.

Pittsburgh Steelers No. 3 quarterback Mason Rudolph has been rumored as a potential trade possibility for weeks after he was surpassed by Kenny Pickett on the team’s depth chart. Rudolph, who played college football at nearby Oklahoma State, has more NFL experience than either of the Cowboys’ internal options.

It’s unclear what the Steelers asking price might be for Rudolph. General manager Omar Khan has said that he intends to keep all three of his quarterbacks. When asked, Rudolph did not want to say publicly if he has requested a trade, saying he would leave that to Khan and his agent.