There’s no question on which quarterback will be leading the Cowboys‘ starting offense this upcoming season. But there is still an ongoing competition at the backup spot.
Cooper Rush and Garrett Gilbert are fighting for the backup gig behind Dak Prescott. A victor has yet to emerge, but team executive vice president Stephen Jones admitted on Saturday Gilbert is in the lead thanks to his experience.
“I think Gilbert and Cooper have got to continue to work, and they’re fighting for that Number Two spot,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “Obviously, Gilbert’s got a little advantage there, but they’re obviously working to hold on to that role there.”
Gilbert served as the team’s fourth-string quarterback last season. He got the opportunity to start after Prescott and backup Andy Dalton suffered injuries. He completed 55.3 percent of his throws for 243 yards and one touchdown with one interception during the 2020 campaign.
Make no mistake, though. If the Cowboys feel like neither Gilbert or Rush are capable of being a quality backup, they’ll look elsewhere to fill the backup spot.
“As I’ve said time and time again, player acquisition is 365 days a year and we’re always looking to get better,” Jones continued. “They’re not only competing against each other, but they’re competing against other people in the NFL, just as other people at other positions on our football team are doing the same thing.”
Cooper Rush was the best Cowboys quarterback on Saturday against the Houston Texans. He completed 10 of his 12 pass attempts for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Gilbert played sparingly and wound up with just 30 yards on three completions.
Ben DiNucci, meanwhile, appears to be running fourth on the Cowboys’ depth chart. He had 120 passing yards on Saturday, but turned the ball over three times.
The post Stephen Jones Offers Hint On Backup Quarterback Competition appeared first on The Spun.
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