With both Andy Dalton and Dak Prescott out, the Cowboys are going to rely on a seventh-round pick to lead them to first place.
When Ben DiNucci was drafted in the seventh-round of the 2020 draft, there was no way he ever thought he was going to start this season.
Instead, DiNucci will be making his first career NFL start, on Sunday Night Football, and for a chance to put the Cowboys in first place of the NFC East. No pressure, right?
DiNucci made his NFL debut last Sunday when Dalton was knocked out of the game by Jonathan Bostic. Out of 12 snaps, he completed 2 of 3 passes for 39 yards. However, he was sacked three times and fumbled twice.
However, the Cowboys are “low-key excited” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Ben DiNucci, a developmental quarterback thrust into a starting job in a massive game, but Cowboys low-key excited/intrigued about what he might do. Good arm/mobility, showed poise in relief in Washington.”
Members of the offense feel the same way. Star wide receiver Amari Cooper talked to reporters on Friday and called DiNucci “comfortable” when describing DiNucci, via Jon Machota of The Athletic.
“He looked good. If I had to describe it in one word, I’d say he looks comfortable. It seems like he’s a confident guy. He has a little bit more velocity (behind his throws),” Cooper told Cowboys reporters on Friday afternoon.
Michael Gallup referred to DiNucci as a “gunslinger,” while Ezekiel Elliott praised DiNucci for his command of the huddle.
“He definitely has a little s**t to him,” Elliott said, via his new conference on Wednesday. “Confidence. He takes command of the huddle and that’s great especially coming from a young guy since you honestly don’t know, he hadn’t played any snaps in this league up until last week.”