Dallas Cowboys: 4 potential backup quarterback options
By Connor Green
4. Garrett Gilbert
If the Cowboys do not add another quarterback through free agency or the draft and the team is able to get their starting signal-caller back for at least one more season then Garrett Gilbert will become the teams’ de facto backup at the position. Dallas signed the 29-year old passer from the Cleveland Browns practice squad last season after Prescotts’ injury.
At the time of his signing with the organization, Gilbert had only thrown six passes in his NFL career. However, the former sixth-round draft pick did manage to find some success in the short-lived AAF (Alliance of American Football) where he led the league in both passing yards with 2,152 and passer rating with 99.1 before it suspended operations.
Gilbert also had his first career NFL start with the Cowboys last year against the undefeated (at the time) Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite a significant mismatch in the teams’ level of talent Gilbert managed to keep Dallas in the game and the team only ended up losing by five points.
He finished with 243 passing yards to go along with one touchdown. However, the 29-year old passer also finished the game with a thoroughly unimpressive 55.3 percent completion percentage and a poorly timed interception.
Despite his mixed stat line, Gilbert performed admirably in his first career start against a tough opponent. That performance, combined with his impressive stint in the AAF, should at least keep him in the conversation to be the teams’ backup quarterback next season.