The Ben DiNucci experiment was fun while it lasted. Well, not really. Though only marginally worse than his Eagles counterpart Carson Wentz, the seventh-round rookie—who, in an ideal scenario, never would have seen the field this year—was predictably overmatched in his starting debut Sunday night in Philly, completing just 21-of-40 passes for 180 scoreless yards in a lopsided Cowboys defeat. The James Madison alum also coughed up two fumbles while absorbing four sacks for a loss of 48 yards.
And, lest any of us forget, DiNucci delivered a lowlight for the ages with this sideline duck to no one in particular. The stat sheet may label it as an “incompletion,” but where I come from, that's called poetry.
After that inept display, the Cowboys, who are still without Andy Dalton (the former Bengal is now battling COVID on top of his concussion), will bench DiNucci for either practice-squadder Cooper Rush or backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Ian Rapoport adds that it "sounds like the Cowboys are leaning towards Gilbert" getting the start, but they won't make that determination until both he and Rush get reps in practice this week.
The 26-year-old Rush has completed just a single NFL pass since arriving as an undrafted rookie in 2017, but the Central Michigan alum is familiar with the Cowboys’ offense, having been with the organization most of the past four years (he spent a month on the Giants’ P squad earlier this season).
Gilbert, 29, has bounced around several organizations since the Rams selected him the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft. In addition to the Rams and Browns, Gilbert has been a member of the Patriots, Lions, Raiders and Panthers.
The Lake Travis native has appeared in six career games, completing two passes for 40 yards.
Almost anyone would be an improvement on DiNucci, who failed to lead a touchdown drive while showing nonexistent chemistry with star receiver Amari Cooper (1-5-0 on five targets) in the loss to Philadelphia. If the Cowboys do end up making the switch to Rush, he’ll be Dallas’ third starting quarterback in as many games.
Dallas’ quarterback woes began shortly after Dak Prescott, who was leading the league in passing yards per game (371.2), was lost to a season-ending ankle fracture in Week 5. As noted by NFL Network’s Bobby Belt, the Cowboys put up more points in Prescott’s final fourth quarter (24 against the Browns in Week 4) than they have over their past three games with Dalton and DiNucci under center (22).
Whoever starts Week 9 for Dallas will have the unenviable task of facing the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, who lead the NFL in sacks with 30. That’s even more remarkable when you consider the Steelers have only partaken in seven games (the Titans’ COVID scare gave them an impromptu bye week) while most of the league has already played eight.
Needless to say, Sunday will be tough sledding for the Cowboys, whose playoff chances have dwindled to just 3.3 percent, according to ESPN’s updated Football Power Index. Led by the dominant pass-rushing trio of T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree and Stephon Tuitt, the Steelers enter Week 9 as 13.5-point road favorites on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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