Garrett Gilbert is set to make his Cowboys debut. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys plan to start Garrett Gilbert vs. Steelers

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 11/7/20

The Dallas Cowboys will start their fourth different quarterback of the season on Sunday when they take on Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Garrett Gilbert and Cooper Rush dueled for the starting job throughout practice this week, but it appears head coach Mike McCarthy has made his decision.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Cowboys plan to start Gilbert on Sunday. He took a majority of reps in practice and Rush will be his backup.

The #Cowboys plan to start QB Garrett Gilbert on Sunday against the #Steelers, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Gilbert has gotten the majority of reps this week in practice. Assuming all goes well today, Gilbert starts and Cooper Rush backs him up.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 7, 2020

Gilbert, 29, has never started an NFL game. However, he's appeared in six games — three for the Carolina Panthers in 2018 and three for the Cleveland Browns in 2019. The SMU product has completed 2-of-6 passes for 40 yards and has rushed for three yards.

For the first five games of the season, Dallas had one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Dak Prescott. When he suffered a season-ending injury, he was replaced by Andy Dalton, who has not played well. Dalton was knocked out by a concussion and was later placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Rookie Ben DiNucci was the third-string quarterback, but he didn't impress last weekend.

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