A rookie quarterback playing at an MVP level. A dramatic Hail Mary victory. And now, continuing what is fast becoming a magical season for the Washington Commanders, a break against their old nemesis.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on his weekly 105.3 The Fan radio show Tuesday morning that the team will place injured quarterback Dak Prescott on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next four games.
"It's iffy," Jones said of Prescott's hamstring suffered late in last Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. "We're talking about an extended period of time here."
The third game of Prescott's minimum four-game absence will be against the Commanders Nov. 24 at Northwest Stadium. The significance? The Commanders are 2-11 all-time vs. the Cowboys when Prescott plays quarterback.
Last season the Cowboys swept Washington by a combined score of 83-10.
Commanders' rookie Jayden Daniels is decidedly outplaying Prescott this season, with a much higher completion percentage and six fewer interceptions.
At 7-2 the Commanders have a considerable cushion over the defending NFC East champion Cowboys (3-5) in the division standings. Getting the luxury of playing them without Prescott gives them a great chance to increase that lead.
In Prescott's absence the Cowboys will start veteran backup Cooper Rush, but Jones also hinted that game plans could include third-stringer Trey Lance.
"Let's don't just dismiss anything," Jones said when asked if Lance could see action. "It's no impossible for us to incorporate some of the skills of both quarterbacks. There are things we can do with (Lance) that can give our offense a punch."
Rush is 5-1 in his career as a starter, including an impressive 4-1 stretch while filling for Prescott in 2022 while the starter recovered from a broken thumb.
