If Dak Sacked? Cowboys 'Best-Equipped' to Win Without Prescott

If the medically unthinkable befalls Dak Prescott, are the Dallas Cowboys fully capable of surviving the the cutthroat world of the NFL playoff picture?

Last year when Dak Prescott went down, Cooper Rush stepped up. What if that happens again in 2023? One outlet might've taken away one of the few excuses the Dallas Cowboys have left ... but offered a nice compliment in return.

Dallas was named one of CBS' five NFL teams that stand as "best equipped" to handle a medical calamity under center, namely losing its starting quarterback. The Cowboys are joined on that list by Carolina, Miami, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. 

Last season's 4-1 effort sans Prescott, one that helped the Cowboys keep pace in the competitive NFC playoff picture, certainly led to Dallas' inclusion on the list and there's no denying backup thrower Cooper Rush looked the part. Removing a three-interception game against the future NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles (a game that, to Dallas' credit, was decided by only nine points), Rush amassed a 97.0 passer rating and completed just under 62 percent of his passes. It was enough to for Dallas to bring Rush back on a two-year deal worth $6 million and granting him undisputed status as the team's top backup option.

Compiler Tyler Sullivan, however, is more impressed with the moves Dallas made to complement the quarterback spot, whether it's Prescott, Rush, or an unforeseen third party.

"The club made some savvy additions this offseason, including trades for wideout Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore," Sullivan writes on CBS. "Those two are much-needed pieces to their respective sides of the ball and should make Dallas a legit contender in the NFC."

To that point, Cooks was the most consistent silver lining the post-Deshaun Watson Houston Texans had while Gilmore, despite a nomadic start to the decade (working through New England, Carolina, and Indianapolis in the last three years), has continued to impress, amassing 16 pass breakups, five interceptions, and two Pro Bowl nominations in that span.

The newcomers' talents should mesh well with North Texas' established talents.

"Cooks has shown in Houston that he can produce even with subpar quarterback play, and the Cowboys have a number of top-tier weapons on their depth chart, including Tony Pollard and CeeDee Lamb," CBS declares. "It's also worth pointing out that the Dallas offensive line, headlined by Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, is among the best in the league."

"The Cowboys' starting secondary should strike fear in any opposing quarterback with Gilmore and Trevon Diggs are the corner spots and then the three-headed monster at safety with Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, and Jayron Kearse still in the fold. Of course, Micah Parsons is arguably the best pass rusher in the league."

Dallas certainly hopes it's not in a position where it has to adjust to life without Prescott (again). But its contingency plans certainly seems to be well-thought out at the very least.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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