No team really wants the names below the first spot on its quarterback depth to matter in an NFL season. The Cowboys were no exception, but injuries to Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton have made backup quarterbacks the story of the season for the Cowboys.
Prescott (ankle) had his season ended in Week 5. Dalton (concussion) took a late hit in Week 7 and isn't a sure thing to play immediately going forward. That leaves rookie Ben DiNucci and journeyman Garrett Gilbert as the remaining Cowboys' QB depth. In a brutal NFC East, Dallas would have a chance to compete with competent quarterback play, but that seems like a lot to ask for at this point.
Here's a look at what Dallas is working with at QB, along with what you should know about DiNucci, Gilbert and even the Cowboys' emergency quarterback, Blake Bell.
Dallas Cowboys QB depth chart
The following is the Dallas Cowboys' quarterback depth chart entering Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season, with Dak Prescott already out for the year with an ankle dislocation and fracture.
1. Andy Dalton (if healthy)
Dalton was knocked out of the Cowboys' Week 7 game against the Washington Football Team by a late hit from linebacker Jon Bostic. He was placed into the NFL's official concussion protocol the Monday following that 25-3 Dallas loss, and his status going for
MORE: How long is Andy Dalton out?
2. Ben DiNucci
You can read more about who DiNucci is right here, but here are some of the basics:
- DiNucci's a rookie quarterback from James Madison.
- He began his college career at Pittsburgh before transferring after the 2017 season to JMU.
- James Madison and DiNucci went to the 2019 FCS National Championship Game, where they lost to Trey Lance and North Dakota State.
- DiNucci was the 231st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, a seventh-rounder.
3. Garrett Gilbert
Gilbert was a standout college quarterback at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas. He threw for 55 touchdowns in a 16-0 senior season, and he broke Graham Harrell's all-time state passing yardage record. Gilbert committed to play at the University of Texas out of high school. Gilbert took over in relief for the injured Colt McCoy in the national championship game against Alabama as a true freshman and threw two touchdowns compared to four interceptions.
As a junior, Gilbert lost his starting job and underwent shoulder surgery before transferring to SMU. Gilbert had his two best collegiate seasons with the Mustangs, and as a redshirt senior he threw for 3,528 yards and 21 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.
The St. Louis Rams selected Gilbert in the 2014 NFL Draft in the sixth round, with the 214th overall pick. He proceeded to bounce around to the Patriots, Lions, Raiders and Panthers. Gilbert joined the Orlando Apollos in the AAF's inaugural season and starred, leading the league in passing yards and passer rating before the league was shut down. The Cleveland Browns signed Gilbert after the AAF's suspension, and he spent a bit of time backing up Baker Mayfield.
The Cowboys claimed Gilbert off Cleveland's practice squad after Prescott went down with his season-ending ankle injury, bringing Gilbert back close to home in Texas.
Gilbert was born in Buffalo, New York, as the son of NFL QB Gale Gilbert. Gale was the third-string quarterback behind Jim Kelly and Frank Reich on the Buffalo Bills teams that lost four-straight Super Bowls. After that fourth Super Bowl loss, Gale moved on to the San Diego Chargers, who went to the next season's Super Bowl and also lost.
Who is the Cowboys' emergency quarterback?
DallasCowboys.com writer David Helman reported after Dalton's injury that the team's emergency quarterback (a player at a different position who would play the position if all others were hurt) is tight end Blake Bell. Bell has played in the NFL for the 49ers, Vikings, Jaguars, Chiefs and now the Cowboys. He has never attempted a pass in the NFL.
In college at Oklahoma, Bell functioned as a full-time quarterback until his senior year. He mostly served as a rushing QB in the Sooners' jumbo package, but as a junior, Bell completed 140-of-233 (60.1%) passes for 1,648 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. Out of high school in Wichita, Kansas, Rivals ranked Bell as the sixth-best pro-style quarterback in his class.