Andy Dalton will be sidelined for the second consecutive week for the Dallas Cowboys and they used the entire week to evaluate their options at quarterback. After mulling their options, the Cowboys plan to start Garrett Gilbert in Week 9 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, per NFL Network's Tom Pelisserro.
The #Cowboys plan to start QB Garrett Gilbert on Sunday against the #Steelers, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Gilbert has gotten the majority of reps this week in practice. Assuming all goes well today, Gilbert starts and Cooper Rush backs him up.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 7, 2020
Dalton remains out for the Cowboys after suffering a concussion in the team's Week 7 loss to the Washington Football Team. Since Dalton was unable to be cleared from the league's concussion protocol, Dallas was deciding between either Gilbert or Cooper Rush at quarterback.
A week ago, the Cowboys chose to insert rookie Ben DiNucci into the offense in place of Dalton. The rookie seventh-round pick struggled in his first career start, completing just 52.5 percent of his passes and turning the ball over twice.
As a result, Dallas decided it was best to bench him in favor of one of their other signal-callers. And after getting the majority of the practice reps with the starters, Garrett Gilbert will be the lucky contestant to face the daunting defense of the Steelers.
Garrett Gilbert began his career as a seventh-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft. Throughout his career in the NFL, Gilbert has yet to make a start and has attempted just six passes under center.
Ever since Dak Prescott went down with a season-ending ankle injury, the offense of the Cowboys has scored just one touchdown in the past 13 quarters. While Gilbert will make his first career start on Sunday, he'll be looking to provide a spark against a Steelers defense that leads the league with 30 sacks.
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