There was some hope in Dallas that backup quarterback Andy Dalton might make be cleared from a concussion in time to face the Steelers on Sunday.
Those hopes were dashed, however, on Tuesday as Dalton was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 List by the Cowboys.
That means the Steelers (7-0) could see third-string quarterback Ben DiNucci under center for the Cowboys (2-6) in Dallas. The only other quarterback on the active roster is third-year pro Garrett Gilbert, who has completed two passes in six career attempts, though the team could turn to Cooper Rush, a three-year veteran who is on the practice squad. Rush has thrown three career passes.
But according to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, DiNucci will not get the start this week. The Cowboys will allow Rush and Gilbert to compete for the starting job, though the Cowboys aren't saying anything publicly.
DiNucci, a graduate of Pine-Richland High School in Pittsburgh's north suburbs, made his first career start last week. He subbed for Dalton last Sunday in a 23-9 loss to the Eagles, completing just 21 of 40 passes for 180 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked four times.
DiNucci, who began his college career at Pitt before transferring to James Madison after losing the starting job to Kenny Pickett, was a seventh-round draft pick for the Cowboys.
He wasn't expected to play this season after the Cowboys signed Dalton, a longtime starter with the Bengals, to back up Dak Prescott. But Prescott suffered a broken ankle in an Oct. 11 win over the Giants, forcing Dalton into the starting lineup.
Then, two weeks ago in a loss to Washington, Dalton suffered a concussion on a hit by former Steelers linebacker Jon Bostic while sliding to the ground, forcing him to miss the Cowboys' game against the Eagles.
The Steelers, off to their best start since 1978, can relate to what the Cowboys are going through. They went through a similar situation in 2019, when Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season after playing just six quarters and his backup, Mason Rudolph, then suffered a concussion in a loss to the Ravens. That forced the Steelers to start Devlin Hodges, an undrafted rookie out of Samford, at times.
"Us being a group that’s been in similar circumstances as of late, I've got a feeling for what’s transpiring there," Mike Tomlin said. "Initially, there’s probably a period of shock where you’re dealing with the reality that you don’t have your guy. Then, you go about formulating the personality that is going to allow you to develop a winning formula."
The Cowboys used a game plan similar to that the Steelers used in 2019 when Hodges was forced into his first career start in a win against the Chargers on the road. They ran end-arounds. They had non-quarterbacks taking direct snaps. DiNucci ran five times for 22 yards.
It could be even more of a moment of desperation with Gilbert or Rush at quarterback.