FRISCO, Texas – After Dak Prescott opted to undergo season-ending surgery to repair his partially torn hamstring, the Cowboys signed Will Grier to the practice squad as the team’s third-string quarterback alongside Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. Mike McCarthy hinted in his Monday press conference that Dallas was “close” to signing one, and now it’s official.
It’s a homecoming for Grier, who left the Cowboys under emotional circumstances in 2023 after the team traded for Trey Lance, ending the situation. Grier helped Dallas win its final preseason game against the Raiders knowing he would not be a part of the organization going forward, throwing for 305 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys’ 31-16 victory.
“It’s been tough, but I’ve been through tougher things, I have a lot of respect for this organization and the Jones family, I understand it’s a business at the end of the day…” Grier said after the win over the Raiders in 2023. ” “The hardest part for me is just leaving this place, to be honest I became very close to the team, that’s part of what we do.”
And now, Grier is back in the building with the Cowboys after bouncing around the league in stops with the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers and, most recently, the Philadelphia Eagles.
The corresponding move to add Grier to the practice squad was to release undrafted rookie defensive back Emani Johnson.
One important note regarding Grier’s addition is that since he was added to Dallas’ practice squad, he cannot be the emergency quarterback. Grier can still be promoted to the game-day roster and be the backup option or third quarterback, but for the “emergency” designation to be applicable, he has to be on the active roster. The Cowboys would have to make room on the active roster for Grier to earn the emergency designation.
