Cowboys’ Cooper Rush will serve as backup QB, get promoted to active roster ahead of Week 1 vs. Buccaneers

The Dallas Cowboys don’t have a single quarterback other than Dak Prescott on their 53-man roster as of now, but they welcomed back a pair of familiar faces as emergency depth Wednesday, re-signing backups Cooper Rush and Will Grier to their practice squad. 

Hours later, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Rush will back up Prescott. Rush will get promoted to the active roster eventually, likely the week of the team’s regular season opener, which kicks off Sept. 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Both Rush and Grier were released as part of the team’s final cuts Tuesday but were expected to return.

It’s possible both reserves could eventually be moved to the active roster ahead of Week 1, with several veteran players candidates to be placed on injured reserve — with the intention of being reactivated during the season. The Cowboys can also promote players on the practice squad for temporary 53-man assignments throughout the year.

Grier was subject to waivers upon his release, while Rush was not. The latter has spent the majority of his career with the Cowboys, and played in five games with one start last season. In all, he completed 30 of 47 passes for 422 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. In Rush’s one start, he defeated the Minnesota Vikings 20-16 while throwing for 325 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 

Grier is a former third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers out of West Virginia, whom the Cowboys claimed off of waivers last September. He is a practice squad candidate if he goes unclaimed on waivers.