Does Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott have a new primary backup in Will Grier?
Does Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott have a new primary backup?
One day after seemingly settling on Cooper Rush as the team’s No. 2 quarterback, the Cowboys claimed Will Grier off waivers from the Carolina Panthers.
Grier, a 2019 third-round draft pick of the Panthers out of West Virginia, was less than impressive during his first two years in the league. His career stats including two starts, 228 yards passing, no touchdowns and four interceptions.
But Grier showed improvement during training camp this season with the Panthers, and he has a connection to Cowboys quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier
Grier spent his first two seasons in college (2014-15) at the University of Florida where Nussmeier was the Gators’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
What is all means for the Cowboys’ pecking order at quarterback remains to be seen. On Tuesday, the Cowboys parted ways with Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci in order to meet the 53-man roster deadline, and the indications were that the team was going to settle with Rush as their backup.
Rush has more experience in offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s system but he has no career starts and just one career completion.
For now, the Cowboys have three quarterbacks on the roster, and hope that no one other than Prescott is forced to play meaningful minutes.
The Cowboys released punter Bryan Anger to make room for Grier on the roster.
Look for the Cowboys to make several more roster moves on Thursday when the team is expected to move some players from the active roster to the injured reserve list.
They also hope to activate receiver CeeDee Lamb, guard Connor Williams, safety Damontae Kazee and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins from the NFL’s Covid-19 list and re-sign Anger and long snapper Jake McQuaide to the active roster.
The Cowboys did sign 14 players to the practice squad on Wednesday, including quarterback Ben DiNucci, a 2020 seventh-round pick who was released on Tuesday.
The others were offensive tackle Isaac Alarcon, defensive backs Kyron Brown, Deante Burton, Tyler Coyle and Darian Thompson, defensive tackles Austin Faoliu and Justin Hamilton, running back JaQuan Hardy, guard Braylon Jones, receivers Osirus Mitchell and Brandon Smith, fullback Nick Ralston and tight end Jeremy Sprinkle.
This story was originally published September 1, 2021 at 12:51 PM.
