ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are facing a rough patch as quarterback Cooper Rush struggled in place of the injured Dak Prescott, tossing inaccurate passes to open receivers. Additionally, running back Ezekiel Elliott had a crucial fumble in the end zone, contributing to one of five turnovers the team suffered. Owner Jerry Jones expressed understandable dissatisfaction as the season continues to falter for the Cowboys, who now hold a record of 3-6.
Still looking for their first home win of the season, the Cowboys have lost four consecutive games, most recently suffering a significant 34-6 defeat to their NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. With just 146 total yards, this marked the team’s poorest offensive showing at AT&T Stadium in the 15 years since its inception.
“I am as frustrated as everyone else,” Jones admitted. “Given my involvement in what’s unfolding, this frustration is rightfully placed. We are not performing as needed, especially against a high-caliber team like Philadelphia. That is genuinely concerning.”
Prescott’s absence is due to a torn hamstring he suffered in a prior loss against Atlanta, and he is seeking another medical opinion before potentially opting for season-ending surgery. When questioned about the surgery, Jones stated that Prescott’s situation remains under review without providing additional details.
Rush, who previously had a 4-1 record substituting for Prescott, completed only 13 of 23 passes for a mere 45 yards, adding to the team’s struggles by losing two fumbles against the Eagles (7-2). Backup quarterback Trey Lance made his first regular-season appearance for the Cowboys, but his efforts were marred by an interception.
“Our quarterback is out, and things won’t always go as we hope,” noted Micah Parsons, who returned from a four-game absence due to an ankle injury. “This season is turning out to be quite demanding, but we need to uplift one another through these challenges.”
During the game, as the Eagles aimed to widen their 7-3 lead, Jalen Hurts threw an interception caught by Trevon Diggs in the end zone. After a series of punts, Dallas managed their longest drive, advancing 77 yards before Elliott’s fumble on the 13th play thwarted their scoring chance.
Though Parsons managed to sack Hurts, forcing a fumble recovered at the Eagles’ 6-yard line, the Cowboys couldn’t capitalize, gaining only a yard before settling for a field goal after the two-minute warning. Subsequently, Philadelphia executed an impressive 84-yard drive, ending the first half with a 14-6 lead.
With Prescott out for several weeks, Jones is cautious about predicting the remainder of the season. “Losing your starting quarterback requires significant adjustments, and typically those adjustments come with uphill challenges,” he commented.
When asked whether Rush and Lance would remain the quarterback choices for the remainder of the season, Jones expressed the need for improvement. “We must elevate our performance across all positions. I can’t confirm there are better answers outside the organization, but our play must improve drastically from today’s performance.” He acknowledged the positive impact of Parsons’ return but emphasized that no single player can turn the tide alone.
The Cowboys have now lost five straight games at home, a streak that began with a 48-32 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers on January 14, despite having previously enjoyed a 16-game home winning streak over two seasons. This home losing streak is especially notable as, for the first time, they trailed by fewer than 14 points at halftime, though they still have been behind by at least 22 points in each of the previous losses.
As head coach Mike McCarthy’s contract approaches its end, Jones has indicated he does not foresee making any coaching changes during the season. “Everyone plays a part in this situation,” Jones reflected. “I’ve made mid-season coaching changes before and regretted them. It’s important to give yourself the right amount of time to evaluate performance.”