FRISCO, Texas — Following Garrett Gilbert’s successful performance under center against the Steelers, discussions began circulating if he would remain the starter moving forward or would the role still belong to veteran Andy Dalton.
Despite Gilbert’s stunning performance at AT&T Stadium on Sunday afternoon, both executive vice president Stephen Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy silenced the narrative on Monday.
Stephen Jones told local media via conference call, “ Certainly, Dalton has got to pass all of the protocols, whether it’s concussion or virus to get himself ready to go coming off the bye week. If he’s able to do that he’ll be our quarterback. We’ll take each week from there.”
Dalton will be the starting quarterback if healthy and cleared when the team returns from the bye week.
Even though the decision did not rule in favor of Gilbert, both Mike McCarthy and Jones echoed their encouraging impressions of his NFL debut.
“ I don’t want to take anything away from Garrett and what he accomplished yesterday, “ McCarthy described to media. “ I thought he played a fine game. He did some really good things, particularly in the command of the offense. There were a number of adjustments that were made throughout the game, and I thought he picked them up seamlessly, frankly. I feel really good about what he’s accomplished for only being here three weeks, but you know, Andy has been here with us from Day One. I hope to get him back next week sometime and hopefully he can pick up where he left off.”
Jones added, “ I thought he [Garrett Gilbert] was outstanding. He exceeded all expectations and gave us a chance to win.”
Have to keep in mind; Gilbert has only been in the league since 2014 and the Steelers had little to no tape on the former Texas and SMU product to draw from. Gilbert spent stints with several NFL teams following his sixth round selection by the (then) St. Louis Rams in 2014, mainly on team’s practice squads. Most notably, was his time spent with the Orlando Apollos of the AAF in 2019 where he led the league in yards and passer rating. He then signed with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas added him to their practice squad after Dak Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury.
But for NFL tape, Gilbert was an unknown when he stepped into the Cowboys’ huddle and he certainly took advantage. He was able to build continuity with receivers and move the ball downfield.
Dalton was a starter for nine seasons with the Bengals from 2011-2019 so the obvious unequivocal experience factor is there with him, but also teams around the league have years of footage to sort through on Andy to form a gamelan on. Gilbert had the mysterious element of surprise against the Steelers with his style of play but Dalton is well known when he steps on the gridiron.
It is a small sample size yes, but the defense the team faced has to be taken into account. The Steelers defense was ranked fifth in the league coming into the matchup and most people were already writing Gilbert’s eulogy with Pittsburgh’s stellar edge rushers. But Gilbert got the ball off quick and was able to avoid a collapsed pocket by extending drives using his legs.
It was not all butterflies and rainbows for the team’s fourth quarterback in the previous five games, but given Gilbert’s production in Sunday’s game against daunting odds, he built a strong case for himself to challenge for the starting role.
