Getty Andy Dalton
Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Andy Dalton suffered a concussion in Sunday’s loss to Washington, the team announced.
Dalton was injured in the third quarter of the game following a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit by Football Team linebacker Jon Bostic, who drew a personal foul and was ejected for launching head-first at the 33-year-old.
Dalton laid crumpled on the FedEx Field turf, seemingly if momentarily unconscious. A cart was called and then waved off as he walked slowly to the locker room with the assistance of the Cowboys’ medical staff.
Andy Dalton took a nasty hit to the head
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Making his second start in relief of franchise QB Dak Prescott, who’s out for the season, Dalton completed 9-of-19 passes for 75 yards and one interception, absorbing seven hits and five sacks behind a patchwork offensive line missing its starting tackles, center, and right guard.
Seventh-round rookie Ben DiNucci replaced Dalton and completed his first NFL pass attempt, a 32-yard strike to wide receiver Amari Cooper. DiNucci finished 2-of-3 for 39 yards and also took three sacks. Dallas went on to lose, 25-3, dropping to 2-5 on the season, defeating in four of its last five opportunities.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed after the game that Dalton will enter the NFL’s concussion protocol, in which All-Pro right guard Zack Martin — inactive Sunday — also resides. McCarthy did not offer more on Dalton’s injury, except to call out his players for not rushing to their QB’s defense upon Bostic’s illegal action.
“We speak all the time about playing for one another, protecting one another,” McCarthy said, per ESPN. “It definitely was not the response you would expect.”
Dalton must pass several stages of the league’s protocol in order to suit up in next Sunday night’s divisional tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles. His status will be updated throughout the coming days.
The Athletic’s Jon Machota reported Sunday night that Dalton “is doing much better. He is alert. He will be flying home with the team. He does not remember what happened on the hit that knocked him out of the game.”
If Dalton cannot get cleared, DiNucci is slated start Week 8, and the Cowboys likely would activate third-stringer Garrett Gilbert. Tight end Blake Bell functioned as the emergency QB against Washington.
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Irvin’s Opinion on Rumor of Cowboys Acquiring New QB
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s surprise benching in Miami has prompted fans and media alike to speculate on a possible trade involving the flamboyant greybeard quarterback.
The Cowboys were floated as a would-be suitor given Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury and Dalton’s uninspiring relief efforts. To which Michael Irvin boomed, “Hell no.”
“Stop. Stop. Not Ryan Fitzpatrick,” the former Cowboys great and current NFL analyst said Thursday on 105.3 The Fan. “You gotta give me another name. I just can’t take Ryan. I love Ryan. I think he’s a great dude, (has) a great attitude. Don’t bring somebody who’s playing basketball in the NFL, bouncing from team to team. How much hope will that give me?”
Irvin, although intrigued by the potential availability of Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, is of the mind that no outside signal-caller would, now or for the long term, represent an upgrade on the Cowboys’ in-house starter, whose value increases with each snap Dalton handles.
“All the fighting about is Dak worth this, is Dak worth that? Sit down! Just sit down, buddy. We’re seeing right now, yes, he’s worth it,” Irvin said. “Yes, that defense is bad, but at least Dak had them in the game, coming back, and having a shot at winning the game.”
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Follow Zack Kelberman on Twitter: @KelbermanNFL