Cooper Rush spent seven seasons playing for the Dallas Cowboys, so coming out of the visitors’ locker room to face them on Saturday night will be a different experience.
The veteran backup quarterback wants to put his best foot forward in his second start with the Ravens. Baltimore had just 59 passing yards in last week’s 24-16 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts. Rush was intercepted on his first pass and saw just one quarter of action, completing two of four attempts for 16 yards.
It’s still the preseason, but Rush wants to build momentum, knowing he won’t be getting game reps once Lamar Jackson takes over as the regular-season starter. It’s been a transition for Rush going from Dallas’ offense to the Ravens’, but he’s seeing progress.
“I’m really starting to feel comfortable, starting to own it, feel like you’re in command out there over what’s going on,” Rush said. “All the [offseason] reps and OTAs were huge, getting to run the show. Every day it’s been more and more comfortable.”
Rush joined the Cowboys as an undrafted rookie in 2017 and developed into one of the NFL’s most consistent backup quarterbacks. He has a 9-5 career record as a starter, and if Jackson is forced to miss time, the Ravens will be counting on Rush to play just as well, if not better than he did in Dallas.
Rush will see plenty of familiar faces wearing Cowboys uniforms Saturday night. He said returning to Dallas was an option this offseason when he hit free agency, but he jumped at the chance to join the Ravens, given their winning culture. Now, he’s thinking more about playing well than reuniting with friends or putting on a show in front of his former team.
“I’m really trying to show my current team I’m doing well. Things like that are my main focus,” Rush said.
“[But] those games matter. Those preseason games do help guys in my position. Those reps count [and] you learn from them, so when you have to go out there for the real thing, it helps.”