The Dallas Cowboys have been the gold standard for consistency for the last few years. Franchise quarterback Dak Prescott has led the Cowboys to three straight 12-win seasons. Although the success hasn’t translated into the playoffs, Prescott has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league since Mike McCarthy took over the Cowboys.
However, this season couldn’t have gone worse for America’s team. Though the Cowboys currently sit at the record of 3-5, not out of the playoff race just yet. It certainly has felt and looked like a completely different Cowboys team than we are used to seeing. Suffering two home blowout losses at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions set the tone that this could be the end of the Cowboys as we know it.
Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury this past week, and HC Mike McCarthy already ruled him out for this next week. Reports would later come out that Prescott could be heading for IR, which would mean missing a minimum of four weeks. Now however, we’re learning that Prescott’s injury could be more significant and require season ending surgery. Prescott has suffered a partial avulsion of his right hamstring; Cowboys officials are still trying to determine if the tear will heal on its own or require surgery.
Dallas Cowboys Options Without Prescott
For at least this week the Cowboys will start long time back-up Cooper Rush against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rush has shown he can be a solid back-up in the league but is definitely not a long-term solution if Prescott is to miss the remainder of the season. Especially, since the Cowboys have had absolutely no run game to take the pressure off the QB.
Trey Lance is the other quarterback on the Cowboys roster. Lance a former second overall pick by the San Franciso 49ers, has shown flashes but has never been able to reach the full potential the 49ers desperately wanted him to be. Lance has had his own struggles with staying healthy, and when healthy has struggled with turnovers during his limited playing time.
With the trade deadline come and gone, this leaves the Cowboys in the position of either accepting a lost season with one of these options under center or trying to find a free agent quarterback that could give this team a fighting chance at remaining in the playoff hunt.
The Cowboys Should Look at Ryan Tannehill
Ryan Tannehill is easily the best and most experienced quarterback still available on the open market. Tannehill spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, a franchise he helped bring to the playoffs on multiple occasions. Tannehill struggled last season and looked like age might be catching up to him, but even if he’s missing a step Tannehill is an upgrade for the Cowboys most vital position.
The Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems to think they are still in the fight this season, sending a fourth-round draft selection to the Carolina Panthers for wide-out Jonathan Mingo before the trade deadline. If the Cowboys are serious about trying to make a late playoff push in the NFC and end up being without Prescott, Tannehill could be their best option. Though Tannehill is no savior or franchise QB, he does possess a lot of similar traits to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. If McCarthy wants to save his job, as he is in a contract year Tannehill is a smart quarterback that could be able to learn the Cowboys’ offensive system quickly.
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