The Rush is on the move in Dallas.
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush took second-team reps in practice Monday, NFL Network's Jane Slater reported.
The undrafted rookie is rising after solid performances this preseason, while the Cowboys watched backup Kellen Moore struggle.
Moore, an intelligent quarterback with limited physical ability, completed 47.1 and 47.6 percent of his passes the past two preseason games, respectively, with no touchdowns. Rush, meanwhile, has completed better than 80 percent of his passes in those same games, with three touchdowns to zero interceptions.
Rush impressing versus special teams players at the end of preseason games won't change the pecking order unless he gets more work with the second-team unit.
Elevating Rush to some second-team reps in practice indicates the Cowboys are willing to consider such a swap. The rookie out of Central Michigan earned praise from owner Jerry Jones following Saturday's preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts, but it might not be enough to leapfrog Moore.
"I'm just glad to see Rush taking advantage of his opportunities out there," Jones said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Wouldn't want to get ahead of ourselves in any way here. And the other thing is that we still have a lot of confidence in 17 (Moore), his ability to be able to get in there when we would call on him with the personnel around him and get the ball in the right places."
In a perfect world, Dak Prescott never leaves the field for the next decade, and the backup quarterback question becomes moot. Cowboys fans, however, know all too well that there is no perfect world in football. Moore has the respect of the coaching staff with his acumen, but his physical shortcomings make him a liability on the field. If he can't fend off Rush, his transition to become an assistant coach could happen rapidly.
In all likelihood, the Cowboys will keep the same pecking order on their official depth chart and pray that a backup never plays. We'll see if the rookie gets more run with the second unit in Saturday night's preseason tilt with the Oakland Raiders.
