What the Dallas Cowboys learned in their loss to Pittsburgh

Ben DiNucci is not ready for the backup role

Late-round quarterbacks usually aren’t considered to have starting potential. In 2016, Dak put the draft stock value on fire as he emerged to become the offensive rookie of the year as a fourth-round quarterback.

In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected quarterback Ben DiNucci with hopes of finding a gem. He played at James Madison after failing to stick around as the starter at the University of Pittsburgh.

He stepped into the NFL earlier than anyone expected. With the fall of Prescott and backup Andy Dalton, the rookie got thrown into the fire. It went as expected.

In two games, he got sacked seven times and fumbled the ball twice. He never threw an interception, but he also didn’t throw a touchdown. His 53 percent completion percentage showcases his inability to make plays due to constant pressure and poor decision-making.

On Thursday, he stepped in as the third-string quarterback on the depth chart, not including Dak. He finished the game by completing seven of his 17 throws for 89 yards and one interception. Just under half of those yards came on the last drive of the game.

It’s unrealistic to believe the quarterback would be ready to play within his first three seasons. He was available in the seventh round for a reason.

Despite the lack of success thus far, that’s not to say Ben will never develop into a serviceable quarterback. His dual-threat abilities suit today’s NFL, but he needs more time to develop.

DiNucci should return to the practice squad and remain as the Cowboys’ emergency quarterback. The chances of numerous injuries coming up again are slim, and time with the practice squad will allow him to become a backup.

There are three more years on his rookie contract, so there is no need to rush. Cutting him won’t cost much, but it also won’t help the team. While his performance is concerning, what did you expect to see?