Cowboys release two quarterbacks ahead of deadline

Ahead of this afternoon’s deadline, the Cowboys are releasing quarterbacks Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert.

DiNucci completed 23 passes for 219 yards over three games in his rookie season last year.

He was a seventh-round draft pick out of James Madison University in 2020. He ranks top-10 all-time at JMU in five statistical categories including completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. Prior to going to JMU, DiNucci spent three seasons at Pitt where he had 1,107 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. 

Additionally, the Cowboys waved Garrett Gilbert. Gilbert was a sixth-round pick out of SMU in 2014. He spent three years at Texas (his first as Colt McCoy’s backup) prior to transferring to play for the Mustangs. He started during the 2010 season and was benched for Case McCoy and David Ash in early 2011 just prior to transferring to SMU.

In the NFL Gilbert had 283 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception. The touchdown, interception and 243 yards were with Dallas. The additional 40 yards came with Carolina in 2018. He has played for seven NFL teams. 

Gilbert struggled early in camp and made a late push, but it was not enough to keep him with the team.

The Cowboys’ remaining quarterbacks are Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. Prescott is expected to start next Thursday against the Buccaneers in the Cowboys’ season opener.

“I mean, not to be Captain Obvious, but it’s full-steam ahead to Tampa,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “We lost some opportunities to practice with Dak. Now that he’s back, our focus really, part of [offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s] focus and Dak’s focus really, this past week, we need to get as much in as we possibly can between now and the Tampa Bay game. Our focus is on Tampa.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated to 105.3 The FAN on Tuesday morning that Prescott is has no limitations at this time.

He told the same station that “Cooper Rush’s consistency and familiarity with the offense led to the Cowboys keeping him over Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci.”

Rush went undrafted out of Central Michigan in 2017 and was with the Cowboys from 2017-2019. He was with the Giants from May 2020 to to September 2020 before rejoining the Cowboys in October of last season.