Dallas Cowboys claim quarterback off waivers

The Dallas Cowboys claimed former Carolina Panthers quarterback Will Grier off waivers, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Grier was waived yesterday by the Panthers in order the reach the 53-man regular season roster. The former Florida and West Virginia star lost the backup quarterback competition on his previous team.

The Cowboys only kept two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster yesterday, starting quarterback Dak Prescott and his backup Cooper Rush. The addition of Grier could mean the team plans to roster three quarterbacks, or a correlating move could be made over the next week.

In order to reach their 53-man roster on Tuesday, the Cowboys released a pair of quarterbacks themselves. Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert, who both started games last season, did not make the roster.

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

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.

More about Will Grier

The 26-year-old former third round pick spent two seasons with the Panthers in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina before being waived on Tuesday.

Before joining the Cowboys, Will Grier started two NFL games for the Panthers, both in 2019, and has an 0-2 record. He went 28-for-52 in those games for 228 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions.

After winning the starting job in his first full season at Florida, Grier faced a suspension. He transferred to West Virginia and started two seasons for the Mountaineers before entering the NFL Draft in 2019.

He finished his college career with 8,556 yards with 81 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in 28 games.

Other roster moves

Despite waiving running back JaQuan Hardy ahead of yesterday’s deadline, the Cowboys plan to bring him back as a practice squad member, per the Dallas Morning News’ Michal Gehlken.

With established running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard both fully healthy, the team opted to only keep two running backs on the active roster but retains the right to pull Hardy up for games if needed under the NFL’s loosened practice squad rules in 2021.

Gehlken also reports the Cowboys will add rookie fullback Nick Ralston and veteran safety Darian Thompson will join the practice squad.