Cowboys' Dak Prescott to start throwing; Cooper Rush expected to start

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will throw passes Wednesday for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right thumb, but he is expected to miss his fifth straight game Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

«We are preparing for Cooper [Rush] to start against the Eagles,» coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday.

McCarthy said Prescott will throw to receivers after Wednesday's practice. He will go through the quarterback school (a pre-practice walkthrough just for the QBs) and go through some individual drills but not take part in any of the practice.

McCarthy said he does not anticipate Prescott wearing a splint for added protection.

«I think we're still in the medical rehab phase,» McCarthy said. «So once he clears this phase and he's fully activated, then I think that's when we have our conversation.»

Prescott had surgery on Sept. 12 — a day after the Cowboys' season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While owner and general manager Jerry Jones said there was hope that Prescott could return within four weeks — and did not put the quarterback on injured reserve — that was always the most optimistic view. The timetable for a return was between four to six weeks after he had a plate inserted into stabilize the thumb.

McCarthy repeated that he wants Prescott to get a full week of work before returning as the starter. He would not get into a potential thought of having Prescott serve as Rush's backup as he continues to mend.

The Cowboys have won four straight games with Rush, but McCarthy does not believe the team's path with Prescott would have altered if the record would have been different.

«You've got to trust the medical process,» McCarthy said. «This is a 17-game season. That was my