The Dallas Cowboys offense is struggling in their first game without Dak Prescott. There is a vocal minority of Cowboys fans who have always believed Prescott is holding the team back, and a large part of their evidence was the way the team played in 2022, when he missed five games early in the season.

Cooper Rush came in and the team won four games in a row with him under center. Despite Rush putting up pedestrian stats and having good luck avoiding interceptions until running into a three-pick game in a tough loss to Philadelphia, the narrative was spun. In this iteration, it might be time to see what the third-string QB can do.

Rush finished the first half with just 36 passing yards, no scores and an inexcusable fumble that gave the Eagles their first touchdown of the game. Rush has shorted several throws and has also been fortunate not to have an interception.

With Prescott likely out for the rest of the season, the Cowboys will quickly decide what the goal is for the 2024 season, with almost all of the coaching staff in the final years of their deals. Long-term considerations may not trump efforts to prove value to future employers, making the QB starting decision more complicated than it needs to be.

Lance has not seen regular season action since being acquired by the Cowboys last summer. The former No. 3 overall selection sat out in San Francisco before Dallas acquired him.

Dallas trails 14-6 at the break in Week 10.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Will Trey Lance play in second half of Cowboys-Eagles?