Cooper Rush
QB · FA · 32 yrs · exp 9 · Central Michigan
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News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
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Cowboys backup QB battle comes down to safety vs. upside
Who would you say is going to wind up QB2?
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Cowboys countdown to kickoff: Top 100 iconic games – Day 84
The Cowboys' 20-17 victory over the defending AFC champion Bengals in Week 2 of the 2022 season is highlighted as an iconic game. With Dak Prescott injured, Cooper Rush led the team to a crucial win, showcasing strong defense and efficiency. Key plays included a touchdown pass from Rush to Noah Brown and a rushing touchdown by Tony Pollard
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Ranking NFL's top 10 backup quarterback situations in 2026: Mac Jones, Fernando Mendoza among top options
Once, many years ago, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski were in Indianapolis ahead of a "Monday Night Football" game, and Gruden noticed Peyton Manning's backups weren't getting any reps., Gruden asked legendary offensive mind Tom Moore why that was the case. It berthed an all-time great quote. "Fellas, if 18 [Manning] goes down, we're f---ed," Moore said, according to Jaworski's account in The Games That Changed The Game . "And we don't practice f---ed." That's one way to view a backup quarterback. If he's on the field, the team is already in deep trouble. And in Manning's case, that proved true. When he missed the 2011 season, the Colts went 2-14. The other way to view backup quarterbacks is that they're important players and could be the most important player at the drop of a dime. Whether it's for a play, a drive, a game or more, having a good insurance plan is crucial. Last year, quarterbacks who weren't the Week 1 starter ended up starting nearly 130 games. Some of the NFL's top teams -- think playoff outfits such as the 49ers ( Mac Jones ), Packers ( Malik Willis ) and Texans ( Davis Mills ) -- got key wins with their starting quarterback out. Other teams lost those opportunities when their starters were out; the Ravens went 0-2 and managed a measly 13 points in Cooper Rush's two starts, for example. So, who's in the best shape if their starter goes down in 2026? These are the top 10 backup quarterback situations across the league. (NOTE: Excluded are three quarterback battles still TBD: the Vikings ( Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy ), the Falcons ( Tua Tagovailoa vs. Michael Penix Jr. ) and the Browns ( Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders ). Anthony Richardson's on-field lows have been as low as any passer, and when you add the significant injury history to the equation, it's fair to question why he's on this list. In 2024, when he started 11 games, he finished 33rd in expected points added per play, ahead of only Cooper Rush, Gardner Minshew and Will Levis . He was wildly off-target (17.6% of his throws were deemed off-target, the second-worst number of the last decade), and he threw eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. It wasn't good enough. But the big plays, plus the idea that he could improve, earned him a spot. He led the NFL in yards per completion in 2024. Obviously, there were far too few completions, but the big-play ability is there, given his absolute bazooka of a right arm. Furthermore, Richardson's rushing ability is a major plus, especially on designed quarterback runs. He's a hammer at the goal line, but even more impressive, he had an 18% explosive rush rate from 2023-24, third in the NFL behind only Drake Maye and Kyler Murray. Could he have a Malik Willis-esque rebirth in another place, as a clearly talented player in need of refinement? Maybe. Could he appear in a pinch as a backup and be a disaster? Maybe. Could he appear in a pinch and have a positive impact with his legs? Maybe. He remains a great unknown. This is, quite simply, a bet on development and Ben Johnson. Tyson Bagent was a fun story three seasons ago, when, as an undrafted rookie, he led Chicago to a pair of wins in a lost season. Never mind that he threw two times as many interceptions (six) as touchdowns (three) in his cameo; it was fun, and the lanky D-II product showed some tools. Bagent has thrown six regular-season passes since Caleb Williams arrived in Chicago. But last year, right before the season, the Bears extended him on a two-year deal. If he's good enough for Johnson, who already looks like one of the NFL's top coaches, to deem him a worthy backup, he's good enough to make this list. The Eagles curiously traded for Andy Dalton in March, which seemed to signal Tanner McKee's time in the City of Brotherly Love might be ending. Selecting Cole Payton in the fifth round a month later only furthered that line of thinking. Yet here we are in June, and the Eagles have four quarterbacks on the roster. Maybe that changes betw [... truncated ...]
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Cooper Rush will participate in Vikings' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis
Pro Football TalkSource ↗
Veteran quarterback Cooper Rush will attend the Vikings' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, joining 23 other players invited for the weekend session. Rush, who has 42 games of experience and a 9-7 record, was cut by the Ravens earlier this year. The Vikings need additional arms for the camp as they did not draft or sign any rookie quarterbacks
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