OXNARD, CA – AUGUST 04: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is seen during training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields on August 4, 2018 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
The Cowboys are happy with Dak Prescott as their starter, but they want to find a more reliable backup option before the season goes any further.
The mood around Dallas improved this week after the Cowboys dispatched the Giants on Sunday night football. That doesn’t mean the roster is standing pat this week. In fact, the Cowboys front office is looking to improve their options at the most important position on the field.
Dak Prescott is off to a solid start to the season, but there are serious question marks behind him on the depth chart. Neither Cooper Rush or Mike White has shown they’re capable of stepping in for Prescott is injury strikes.
That’s why the Cowboys worked Landry Jones out at their facility on Monday. The former Steelers’ backup has been without a job since Pittsburgh let him go just before the start of the regular season. He doesn’t have the talent to be a starter in the NFL, but there’s little doubt he can be a capable stopgap option. The Steelers didn’t let him go because he couldn’t serve as a backup, they simply liked Josh Dobbs’ upside more.
It would be a big surprise if Dallas doesn’t offer Jones a contract. The organization likes Rush’s potential, but his play during the preseason made it pretty obvious he isn’t ready to step into meaningful action this year. If Jones does make the roster, expect White to be the player released to make room.
The only argument against signing Jones is that he isn’t a very good runner. Given the Cowboys’ lack of talent at wide receiver, it might make sense to sign an option who can threaten opposing defenses on the perimeter. That isn’t something Jones can do. He’s a classic, drop-back passer. He can get the ball out on time, but he’s not going to break big plays on the ground.
The harsh truth for the Cowboys is they cannot afford for Prescott to suffer any kind of meaningful injury. Signing Jones would give them a player capable of getting a win or two off the bench, but he isn’t going to lead them to any type of long-term success. Jones would be a terrific insurance policy for the Cowboys, but nothing more.