Cowboys announce plan at quarterback for Steelers game

Mike McCarthy is rolling with Garrett Gilbert at QB

Evidently Ben DiNucci didn’t impress McCarthy on Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s tough to blame him given the James Madison product’s statline in primetime. However, it begs the question: What did the Cowboys really expect from an undrafted free agent thrown into the spotlight?

Rather than go with DiNucci again, the Cowboys are turning to AAF star Garrett Gilbert in hopes of pulling off a stunning upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. Gilbert has some NFL experience, but it’s not positive. Gilbert was up against Cooper Rush in practice to determine who would play against the Steelers vaunted pass rush.

Is Gilbert the right choice?

Uh, given they don’t have many other options, I don’t feel qualified to say. Rush will be on the roster, so should Gilbert struggle, the Cowboys can make a change. This is Gilbert’s first NFL start, just as it was DiNucci’s last Sunday. Dallas opted NOT to make a trade at the deadline while they wait for Andy Dalton to come back from concussion protocol, so this is what they’re stuck with, good or bad.

Gilbert has played in six career NFL games, five of which came with the Cleveland Browns last season. He has two career completions.

With the Orlandod Apollos in the AAF, Gilbert turned into a folk hero of sorts in a football league that was doomed from the start. This makes his return to NFL action a great story, but one in which he’ll face far greater competition than anything he became accustomed to throwing touchdowns against in the AAF.