The Dallas Cowboys surprisingly saw perennial backup quarterback Cooper Rush leave in the offseason, signing a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens to be the backup behind perennial MVP candidate Lamar Jackson.
Rush, who spent the first seven years in Dallas, likely didn’t expect that he would be playing, let alone starting in any games this season with the Ravens. However, Baltimore gave him the start on Sunday against the Houston Texans with Jackson banged up, and it did not go well at all for the former Cowboy.
The 31-year-old Rush had an ugly performance as he completed 14-of-20 passes for 179 yards and three interceptions in a 44-10 loss to the Texans. The last time he threw three interceptions in a game was in Week 6 of the 2022 season against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ex-Cowboys QB Cooper Rush Struggles in Ravens’ Starting Debut in Week 5
When the Ravens signed Rush, they likely thought that he would be a solid veteran presence to step in and keep the offense going if Jackson were to get hurt.
Rush got his first regular snaps in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he completed 9-of-13 passes for 52 yards in relief of an injured Jackson. On Sunday, the former Cowboy was set to face a Texans’ defense that allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards per game (185.8) in the NFL.
It would be a tough challenge for Rush, but it's not like he doesn’t have an All-Pro running back in Derrick Henry behind him and a solid group of pass catchers at his disposal. However, that didn’t matter as the Texans’ defense had the former Cowboys QB’s number.
One of Rush’s interceptions was unfortunate as he threw the ball to tight end Mark Andrews (h/t @GridIron_Geek_) early in the fourth quarter, but the veteran tight end never got a hold of it, and it ended up in the hands of Texans defensive back Jalen Pitre.
If you ask Ravens fans or reporters, they aren’t surprised by Rush’s performance (h/t @giana_jade) because he was tossing interceptions in training camp and the preseason. In the exhibition slate, the veteran QB had completed 69.2% of his passes for 273 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions.
To see the ex-Cowboy not learn from those mistakes and do it in a regular-season game is not a great look. Rush will look to bounce back next week against the Los Angeles Rams.