Video: Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Says He Was Unaware of Cooper Rush’s $250K Contract Bonus

Zach BacharContributor IJanuary 6, 2025

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that he didn’t know quarterback Cooper Rush would have received a contract bonus by playing during a 23-19 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

“I didn’t know about it,” Jones told reporters. “I didn’t even know about it until I read about it.”

Pat Doney @PatDoneyNBC5Jerry Jones says QB Cooper Rush’s contract incentive that would have been reached — and would’ve paid Rush $250,000 — if he played today was NOT the reason Trey Lance started for the Dallas Cowboys…#DallasCowboys #cowboys #dallas #NFL pic.twitter.com/6sKu97vpiH

“Those incentives are in there for the team and we put them in there so that if someone, in his case as a backup quarterback, has to play, they’ve got the financial incentives but they’re usually put in there because of people representing him,” he added.

Rush would have received an additional $250,000 in incentives if he played 55 percent of the team’s offensive snaps this season, as he already received $250,000 for appearing in over 45 percent of Dallas’ offensive snaps (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones).

He was on the field for 52.5 percent of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps heading into Week 18, and a full game likely would have allowed him to reach the 55 percent threshold.

Rush was benched in favor of Trey Lance against Washington, though.

Lance finished 20-of-34 for 244 yards without a touchdown or an interception. He also picked up 26 rushing yards on six attempts.

Rush started in each of Dallas’ prior eight games after three-time Pro Bowl passer Dak Prescott underwent season-ending hamstring surgery.

He likely would have earned a hefty contract bonus by closing out the regular season, but the Cowboys chose to finish the year with Lance under center.