Cooper Rush’s Surprising Confidence: Why Starting for Lamar Jackson Feels Like Déjà Vu

Cooper Rush finds himself stepping into a role he knows all too well — that of the dependable backup quarterback called upon when the unexpected happens. This Sunday, with Lamar Jackson sidelined by injury, Rush will be taking the reins for Baltimore. Having logged 22 starts—eight filling in for Dak Prescott last season in Dallas and 14 over his extended tenure with the Cowboys—Rush’s career record of 9-5 as a starter speaks volumes about why the Ravens brought him on board in the first place. It’s never easy watching a franchise QB go down; the ‘sky-is-falling’ panic is palpable everywhere. Yet, Rush’s calm demeanor and familiarity with these high-pressure situations give the Ravens a palpable boost of confidence. Given the full week of preparation under his belt this time around, he’s embracing this opportunity with both hands — ready to step in, trust his instincts, and lead. Remember his solid outing against the Texans last year? Over 350 passing yards and a sturdy performance, even if the scoreboard didn’t favor his team. It’s moments like these that define a professional who’s always ready to rise when his number’s called. LEARN MORE

Cooper Rush is back in a familiar role.

He signed on to back up Lamar Jackson. He will start for the injured Jackson on Sunday.

Rush started eight games for Dak Prescott in Dallas last season before leaving for Baltimore, and he started 14 in his long career with the Cowboys.

“Whenever a franchise QB goes down, it’s always a ‘sky-is-falling’ feeling everywhere you are. It’s normal,” Rush said Friday, via Ryan Mink of the team website. “We’ve been here before in this type of situation. It’s nothing new, so you lean on that. You get confidence from it, just trust yourself, and if you have to go out there, you can do it.”

In his nine-year career, Rush is 9-5 as a starter. It’s the reason the Ravens signed him in free agency.

“This is what you work for, what you prepare for,” Rush said. “Getting the whole week to actually go out and practice it, too, it’s a lot better than just coming in with no practice reps in the middle of a game, so I’ve enjoyed that.”

One of Rush’s starts last season was against the Texans. He went 32-of-55 for 354 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Cowboys’ 34-10 loss.