The Dallas Cowboys are trying to build depth at the quarterback position as they prepare to be without Tony Romo for some time. The Cowboys have no interest in trading for a high-profile option like Robert Griffin III despite the suggestion being made and the free agent market offers little to be desired. As a result, the team struck a deal for a veteran backup who will now join Brandon Weeden to try and keep the Cowboys in contention.
According to ESPN's Ed Werder, the Cowboys have traded for veteran Matt Cassel with the Buffalo Bills after Romo went on injured reserve with designation to return. The team gave up a 2017 fifth-round draft pick for the quarterback. Cassel comes to the Cowboys after losing the quarterback competition in Buffalo, getting cut and then re-signed as a backup. The team will have him and Weeden as their main rotation heading into the rest of the season.
Romo could return by Nov. 22 against the Miami Dolphins or the Thanksgiving game against Carolina depending on his health. ESPN's Todd Archer reported the quarterback avoided surgery which makes his return at an earlier much more likely after there was fear he would be out for the season. Dallas has full confidence in Weeden. Owner Jerry Jones stressed the quarterback has taken the reps and seen the playing time to be successful.
"This quarterback Weeden can drive the ball down field," Jones told KRLD-FM, via The Dallas Morning News. "He's a thing of beauty on throwing a football. His passing motion and his arm, frankly, you won't see a more gifted passer, power, accuracy, the entire aspect of it. If he can basically prepare, be the starting quarterback, come in and execute and keep his head right, then I feel good about Weeden."
The issue for Weeden is that right now the run game is struggling in Dallas and Dez Bryant is out for the forseeable future while Jason Witten is injured. Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle become very important heading into the year. The Cowboys will need to lean on their run game in order for the offense to move well as Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley take over the receiving roles with Devin Street working in.
"We have to do a better job running the football. We were behind the chains way too much in this ballgame and kind of digging out," coach Jason Garrett said, via ESPN.com. "You have procedure penalties and holding penalties and you see a lot second-and-12, second-and-16 and first-and-20, and those are hard drives to overcome. We're at our best when we're balanced. We're at our best when we control the line of scrimmage and run the football because it gives us great looks down the field to throw it and make the big plays down the field that we've made in this offense over a number of years."
The Cowboys will have an interesting path to the postseason if they can get there. The team is hopeful they have the right amount of depth built in to give them a fighting chance considering both the Giants and the Eagles are struggling right now.