Week 18 could bring some excitement to the Dallas Cowboys quarterback situation. With nothing to lose, the team made a move by adding Will Grier to their active roster from the practice squad. This decision was reported by Ian Rapoport.
Grier, who was picked in the third round in the past, has been with the team’s practice squad since Week 11. Prior to that, he was part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad for the first half of the 2024 season. He has not played in a game since 2019.
In his rookie year in 2019, Grier only played two games, where he threw for a total of 228 yards without scoring any touchdowns and throwing four interceptions.
He only gained 4.4 yards per pass and was sacked six times. He hasn’t had any stats in the last five years. Even though he has been on different practice squads in the last two seasons, Grier was most recently on the Cowboys’ active roster.
He was with the team for the whole 2021 and 2022 seasons, moving between the main team and the practice squad. He got let go before the 2023 season when Dallas got Trey Lance, who he will support in Week 18. Almost two years later, Grier joins the team again in a similar situation.
Dallas brought him on board to provide additional support in 2022 when Cooper Rush was the backup due to Dak Prescott’s injuries. He will continue to play a similar role in Week 18, as Prescott is on the injured list and Rush is scheduled to start again.
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NFL Insider Sheds Light on Dallas Cowboys Rumors Regarding Mike McCarthy’s 2025 Status
McCarthy’s contract expires on January 14, allowing the former Super Bowl winner to join the pool of NFL coaching candidates in 2025. While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seemingly wants him back, there have been conflicting NFL rumors all season regarding McCarthy’s future.
The Cowboys opted not to sign McCarthy to a contract extension after three consecutive 12-win seasons, setting higher expectations for a playoff run in 2024. However, in a contract year, Dallas is poised to miss the playoffs for the second time in the McCarthy era.
McCarthy’s fate seemed sealed in the middle of November following a 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans that dropped the team’s record to 3-7. While a Cowboys coaching search felt inevitable, Jones and Cowboys players publicly stood by the head coach.
Dallas rallied, winning four of its next five games with the Cowboys locker room becoming more adamant about McCarthy returning in 2025. However, with his contract likely to expire before a new deal is reached, multiple teams in the NFL coaching carousel are eyeing McCarthy.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that there is a firm belief around the league that McCarthy can land another NFL head-coaching gig if he wants it. However, Cowboys sources believe the two sides will come to terms on a new contract and sources close to the team said McCarthy’s family loves Dallas.
Even if McCarthy returns, there will be other changes made to the Cowboys coaching staff. Many of the coaches’ contracts are set to expire in Week 18, including defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. An even likelier candidate to be replaced, though, would likely be offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Dallas might also need to make changes with its offensive line coaches with the unit progressively worsening over the years.
Fittingly, Dallas has put itself in a familiar position of sacrificing leverage. McCarthy’s agent will presumably field interest from other teams, which could drive his asking price up even higher for the Cowboys. As the team’s history in contract negotiations with Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb shows, though, Jones’ loyalty and trust in those he works with will likely result in a new deal.
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Jerry Jones Addresses Role With Cowboys After Disappointing 2024 Season
The 2024 season did not go to plan for the 7-10 Dallas Cowboys. After their Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders, Jerry Jones and Co. are beginning to shift their focus to next season.
Jones spoke to reporters after the game, at which point he discussed the possibility of moving on from head coach Mike McCarthy, a decision he said he’d not yet made. When asked about potentially shedding his title as the Cowboys general manager, Jones made clear that was not something he was considering ahead of the 2025 campaign, regardless of who the team’s head coach is.
“No. Just no. I bought the team,” said Jones when asked about relinquishing the GM title, via Saad Yousuf of The Athletic.
“I think the first thing to come out of my mouth—anybody here was at that press conference? Somebody asked, ‘Did you buy this for your kids?’ I said, ‘Hell no. I bought it for me.’ And I didn’t buy an investment.
“I bought an occupation, and I bought something I was going to do. I was 46 (years old). I bought something I was going to do for the rest of my life. That’s what I’m doing. So, no. The facts are, since I have to decide where the money is spent, then you might as well cut all of the bulls–– out.”
Jones has been in charge of football operations in Dallas since he assumed ownership of the franchise back in 1989, and he seems hellbent on remaining in the role in 2025 for a 36th season.
After a disappointing 7–10 season in ’24, Jones will hope the team can bounce back and get to the playoffs in 2025.
