Nate Schneider
Sports Scene
Undrafted rookies in a National Football League training camp are typically viewed as extra bodies and afterthoughts.
Sure, they will be evaluated and given a fair look as everyone else on the roster does but eventually it usually leads to being cut or at the very best placed on the practice squad.
Such was the case after former Lansing Catholic Central and Central Michigan quarterback Cooper Rush went undrafted and signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He was viewed as a longshot to make the roster, with a good case scenario being that he would impress enough that maybe he would land a gig elsewhere.
But Rush had one thing going for him and that was a Dallas quarterback situation which is thin after starter Dak Prescott. Kellen Moore entered the preseason as the backup and Rush was going to receive a fair shake at the third-string role if he excelled during his game action.
Boy, did he ever.
Rush went 38-for-51 in four preseason games with an NFL-high six touchdown passes, no interceptions and 398 yards.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced the day after the fourth preseason game versus the Raiders that Rush would be added to the 53-man roster.
For a brief period of time, Rush was even promoted to backup as Dallas waived Moore before bringing him back the following week ahead of the regular season opener.
Rush was inactive for the first two Dallas games this season and it will take an injury to Prescott plus ineffectiveness from Moore for him to see the field. Even then, the Cowboys could instead take the drastic measure of calling former All-Pro quarterback Tony Romo out of the TV booth and back onto the field.
Regardless, Rush making the Cowboys roster against all odds after a standout prep career at LCC and an outstanding collegiate career at CMU further cements his legacy as one of the Lansing area’s current premier athletes.