Any notion that the Dallas Cowboys would be able to be competitive without Dak Prescott was quashed during the team's Week 10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys were crushed 34-6 with Cooper Rush starting in place of Prescott. The veteran backup averaged an unthinkably bad 2 yards per attempt, and Dallas finished with a paltry 49 total passing yards between him and Trey Lance in the embarrassing loss.

Prescott is expected to miss the rest of the 2024 season because of a hamstring injury, so it appears Dallas' campaign will be a lost one. The team is 3-6 and currently in 13th place in the 16-team NFC.

As such, the Cowboys may take a forward-looking approach in the latter half of the season. That could lead them to consider Mike McCarthy's future with the team.

McCarthy's seat has been hot seemingly since he arrived in Dallas. After his poor start, he had three consecutive 12-win seasons, but his inability to take the Cowboys on a deep playoff run has long been a sticking point among Dallas fans and pundits alike.

Could that lead the Cowboys to fire McCarthy, who is coaching on an expiring contract? Here's the latest look at the veteran coach's future in Dallas and whether he might be the next organizational leader to be let go.

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Will Cowboys fire Mike McCarthy?

Jerry Jones was asked about McCarthy's status after Dallas' blowout loss against Philadelphia. The 82-year-old owner offered his support of the fifth-year Cowboys coach and told reporters the team was unlikely to dismiss McCarthy in-season.

"Mike is a heck of a coach, a great coach in my mind," Jones said, per The Athletic. "[He] has and should have the opportunity to do better than we’re playing right now. I haven’t had good experience changing coaches in the middle of the season."

Dallas has only fired one coach in-season during its franchise's existence, which dates back to 1960. That was Wade Phillips, who was let go after Week 9 of the 2010 NFL season following a 1-7 start.

Jones lamented that decision when explaining his views on firing coaches midseason after Dallas' Week 10 loss.

"I’ve changed coaches in the season with Wade and have always regretted it," Jones said. "As a matter of fact, I made a change with Chan Gailey after two years. I regretted that. That’s not enough. You need to give yourself a chance. I’ve had a lot more rope than that in my time. I haven’t had anybody pull it short on me."

Considering that, it would be shocking to see the Cowboys dismiss McCarthy before the season's end.

However, after the season? Jones might be more open to that possibility, especially with McCarthy's contract set to expire.

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Micah Parsons addresses Mike McCarthy's future

Micah Parsons was asked about McCarthy's future with the Cowboys after Week 10. The star defensive player didn't give the veteran coach a ringing endorsement.

Parsons said that any decision about McCarthy was "above his pay grade." He also expressed more "sympathy or hurt" for veteran players who don't have much time left in the NFL than he did for McCarthy amid the Cowboys' struggles.

"Mike can leave and go wherever he wants," Parsons told reporters. "Guys I kind of feel bad for [are] guys like Zack Martin and guys who might be on their last year or on their way out. Because that's who I wanted to hold the trophy for. You want to win games and do great things with those type of legends who put in more time and work than Mike McCarthy ever did."

Parsons' comments weren't necessarily a dig at McCarthy. They could be read as an acknowledgment that the 61-year-old would be able to find another job if Jones decides to oust him, unlike some of the players who may be in their final seasons.

It doesn't seem like Parsons is overly concerned about McCarthy's hot seat status.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Cowboys fire Mike McCarthy? Jerry Jones balks at midseason firing