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Dallas Cowboys News
Aldon Smith was glad the Cowboys had faith in him and did not deal him prior to the trade deadline. A free agent at the end of the season, he's not wondering about 2021. “I'm extremely grateful for the Cowboys giving me a chance. I mean, I appreciate that. I'm not thinking about next season. I really just want to — I want to win. I want to keep getting better every week, and I want to keep getting better every week.” There have not been any extension talks as of yet for Smith.
Cooper Rush said much of the Cowboys offense is the same and believes his background with the skill players helps. “That was one thing I was really happy about, throwing routes on air and things like that, timing type things, the last few days really came back a lot faster than I expected,” he said. “Having thrown to those guys for years before really helped. It comes right back. Knowing the timing of things already in your head, but having actual experience with those receivers helps a lot.”
Garrett Gilbert's path to the Cowboys has been winding. He has spent time with the Rams, New England, Detroit, Oakland, Carolina and Cleveland in addition to a stop in the AAF with Orlando. He has thrown six passes in his career. “It's been quite the journey that is for sure,” he said. “There is a fine line between saying this over with and I don't know if I going to get another shot. I never lost that belief. I never lost the love for it or the want to be out here or the want to be playing.”
How strange is the Cowboys' QB situation? If Cooper Rush starts Sunday vs. Pittsburgh, he would be the team's first non-rookie quarterback to make his first start with fewer than six pass attempts in his career. He has just three. If Garrett Gilbert starts, it would match Reggie Collier (1986) and Drew Henson (2004) in fewest pass attempts among non-rookie quarterback making their first starts. They had six pass attempts each.