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By David Moore, Staff Writer DMN
There was never any doubt that Ezekiel Elliott would have a spot on the Cowboys' initial roster.
The only question is if he'll still have that spot one week from now.
Cooper Rush? Now, that's a different matter.
As Elliott awaits a ruling from arbiter Harold Henderson on the appeal of his six-game suspension -- and braces to challenge an unfavorable decision in court -- the club had no choice but to include the running back on its roster Saturday afternoon as every team in the NFL made the cut to 53 players.
When training camp began in Oxnard, Calif., in late July, the idea that Rush would make the initial roster was far-fetched. The same applied 30 days ago when the team opened its preseason schedule against Arizona in the Hall of Fame Game.
But Rush quickly asserted himself as the biggest surprise of camp. The rookie out of Central Michigan completed 38 of 51 passes for 398 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. He boasted a quarterback rating of 135.9 in the four games.
Rush was so impressive the Cowboys released veterans Kellen Moore and Luke McCown -- along with his $250,000 guarantee -- to keep him. The club hasn't witnessed this sort of unexpected, meteoric rise by a quarterback in the preseason since...
Well, since last year with Dak Prescott.
"Hey, we're experts," executive vice president Stephen Jones joked after watching Rush carve up Oakland's defense in the team's final preseason game. "You want a quarterback, call us.
"Just kidding. You feel very fortunate to have something like that going for you.''
One of the first people on the Rush bandwagon was Prescott. Did he relate to the rookie since he went through this one year earlier?
"I don't know,'' Prescott said. "I've never been the type to compare myself to anyone or to compare anyone to anyone else.
"I don't look at Cooper and think about myself. I look at Cooper and think about all the great things he's done in his time here and the way he prepares each and every day, the way he attacks practice, the way he's been playing in these games.''
Rush is the only quarterback on the roster behind Prescott at the moment. Don't expect it to stay that way long.
Moore doesn't have to clear waivers. The club's intention is to sign him back as early as Sunday and place tight end Rico Gathers, who remains in the concussion protocol, on injured reserve.
The Cowboys also hope to learn Elliott's fate in the next 48 or so hours. If his suspension isn't vacated -- highly unlikely -- or reduced to the point where he decides not to challenge it in court, he would immediately be placed on the reserve/suspended list, opening up another roster spot.
The club currently has five backs on its roster.
"We prepare our roster for these types of situations, and it's no different than a major injury," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Friday afternoon. "We think we've done a good job with our roster. We like our depth at running back. We like Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden and Rod Smith. We feel good about that group of running backs if we have to go play, and that's what we're prepared to do.
"We obviously have to assume the worst right now as it sits unless the appeal is successful or something happens in court. We're looking at six games with Zeke. Obviously that could be lessened, but if it does then that's only in our favor.
"So we just go to work and prepare, and certainly Alfred and Derrick and Rod have all done a good job of getting ready to play if need be."
The Cowboys cut one-third of its draft class Saturday with the release of cornerback Marquez White (6th round), defensive tackle Joey Ivie (7th round) and defensive tackle Jordan Carrell (7th round).
But don't forget. They found an undrafted rookie prospect in Cooper Rush.