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The Dallas Cowboys travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6 on Sunday Night Football with first place in the NFC East on the line. There’s a lot of football left, but this is one of the biggest games of the season through the first six weeks.
The Cowboys are 4-1 through the first five weeks and have managed four straight wins with backup quarterback Cooper Rush. He replaced Dak Prescott after the starter injured his thumb in Week 1 and underwent surgery. The initial timeline had Prescott out six to eight weeks, but there is a chance he could get back early in time for Week 6.
Will Dak Prescott play in Week 6?
Friday, Oct 14: Prescott got in another limited workout and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Michael Gehlken is reporting he “made important strides this week in throwing program and is scheduled to throw again pregame [but] Cooper Rush is expected to make fifth straight start.”
Thursday, Oct 13: Prescott took part in the “QB school” ahead of practice, but any throwing will come after practice, per Michael Gehlken. Prescott was a DNP on Wednesday and there’s no reason to think that will change the rest of the week. Cooper Rush remains on track to start on Sunday against the Eagles.
Wednesday, Oct 12: Mike McCarthy met with the media Wednesday morning and said that Dak Prescott had a doctor’s evaluation on Monday “and he’s still healing and Cowboys plan for Cooper Rush to start,” per Calvin Watkins. He said that Prescott remains in the medical/rehab phase of his recovery, which suggests we won’t see him on Sunday against the Eagles.
Tuesday, Oct 11: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had his regular radio appearance on Tuesday and he said, “he’s got to spin the ball, really spin the ball” and it will be a question of “[c]an he zip the ball out there and make the throw” to be able to play in a game. He noted that “[w]e’ll start working on that Wednesday real hard.”
This leaves is unclear if Prescott will be able to play on Sunday. The Cowboys will release their first practice report Wednesday afternoon and head coach Mike McCarthy will meet with the media ahead of that. Prescott has been a DNP for every practice since he suffered the injury, so a return to even limited work would be a big sign. The Cowboys will likely play things close to the vest, but we could get a better handle on Prescott’s potential availability at that point.