Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush is nursing a knee injury as the team prepares for its annual Thanksgiving game against the New York Giants.
Rush, who played his best game of the season in Sunday’s 34-26 win over the Washington Commanders, was listed as a limited participant in Monday’s walkthrough. Despite the injury, head coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism about his availability.
“He’s got some work to do, but I think we’re going to be fine,” McCarthy said, via ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Rush’s Strong Performance in Week 12
Rush delivered a standout performance on Sunday, completing 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. His efficient play helped Dallas secure a much-needed victory, snapping a five-game losing streak.
McCarthy praised the veteran quarterback’s execution.
“I thought Cooper did a great job managing the game,” McCarthy said after the win. “Clearly, it was his best game so far this year.”
Rush’s performance likely silenced any immediate calls to give Trey Lance a shot as the starter. However, his availability for Thursday remains key for the Cowboys as they look to build momentum.
Thanksgiving Clash Against the Giants
The Cowboys are heavy favorites heading into Thursday’s game against a struggling Giants team. New York, now 2-9, fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-7 on Sunday.
Dallas will need Rush healthy to take full advantage of this opportunity for another NFC East victory. If he’s unable to go, the team may be forced to turn to Lance, who has yet to play a snap for the Cowboys this season.
Final Thoughts
While McCarthy’s confidence in Rush’s status is reassuring, the Cowboys will need to monitor his knee injury closely during the short week. If Rush is cleared to play, he’ll aim to lead Dallas to another divisional win and keep the team’s faint playoff hopes alive.
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
