Aug 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Ben DiNucci (7) throws a pass to Dallas Cowboys running back Brenden Knox (36) during the second half of a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
On the deadline to trim the roster to 53 players, the Cowboys have made a decision on who will serve as Dak Prescott’s backup.
The Dallas Cowboys have released quarterbacks Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert; a great sign for the health of Dak Prescott. Dallas’s franchise quarterback is expected to be good to go for the season opener versus Tampa Bay.
DiNucci, a seventh-round pick for Dallas in 2020, made a name for himself last season filling in for former Cowboys signal-caller Andy Dalton while the team was dealing with a plethora of injuries in its quarterback room.
In two games, DiNucci went 23-of-43 for 219 yards while failing to record a touchdown. He was likely going to be at risk of losing a roster spot once the team became healthier.
Cowboys cut ties with quarterbacks Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci as Dak Prescott nears 100 percent.
Garrett Gilbert came into the league in 2014 as a sixth round pick by the Rams. From there, he bounced around the league before the Cowboys signed him in October of 2020 due to the amount of injuries the team had at quarterback.
Gilbert’s preseason consisted of him making his case to be Prescott’s direct backup. In his four games, he went 28-of-50 for 301 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions.
Ultimately, the Cowboys decided to go with someone who has been in their system the longest and who they trust the most to backup their star quarterback: Cooper Rush.
This is great news for the Cowboys, as their willingness to part with quarterback depth means that they are happy with the health of Prescott.