When the Cowboys line up this Friday night for their third and final preseason contest, they could very well see a familiar face staring back at them at some point from across the line of scrimmage.
The Atlanta Falcons signed quarterback Ben DiNucci this week as they undergo some late-summer staffing issues at the position. Presumptive Week 1 starter Michael Penix, Jr. and backup Kirk Cousins will not play, the team has already announced. Emory Jones was waived with an injury designation after suffering a concussion in last weekend’s exhibition loss.
That left Easton Stick as the only other quarterback on the Falcons roster. He’ll get the start Friday night for Atlanta, but the team has also added DiNucci as extra insurance.
The 28-year-old announced the news himself on social media.
DiNucci was a seventh-round draft pick by the Cowboys in 2020 out of James Madison. He made his NFL debut in mid-October of that same season, coming on in relief of Andy Dalton, who was himself subbing for an injured Dak Prescott. The third-stringer later found himself starting Dallas’s Week 8 matchup with Philadelphia and being largely overwhelmed in a 23-9 loss. It was his final game appearance wearing the star; Garrett Gilbert took over backup duties from DiNucci for the remainder of the season.
After spending 2021 on the Cowboys practice squad, DiNucci was waived just prior to the start of the 2022 season. He went on to a playoff stint with the XFL’s Seattle SeaDragons and then spent time with Denver, Buffalo, and New Orleans before this most recent signing with Atlanta.
DiNucci has gone 23-of-43 passing for 219 yards in his NFL regular-season career, all of it coming in three game appearances as a Cowboys rookie.
Now against his former team and in front of his Dallas fans, he may get the opportunity to showcase his skills once again as he continues to chase his NFL dream.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Former Cowboys QB signs with Falcons ahead of preseason meeting
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
