The Dallas Cowboys were hoping they would only have to rely on rookie Ben DiNucci for one spot start, but Andy Dalton is not yet ready to return to practice, coach Mike McCarthy said Monday.
Dalton missed the Cowboys’ 23-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday after he sustained a head injury on an illegal hit from Washington linebacker Jon Bostic in Week 7.
“Andy hasn’t officially cleared the protocol,” McCarthy said. “Once we make it through that, we’ll announce it to you.”
Dallas owner Jerry Jones previously stated that he hoped to have Dalton back in the lineup in time for the Cowboys’ visit from the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.
Dallas (2-6) averaged 32.6 points per game with Dak Prescott at the helm before Prescott sustained a season-ending leg injury during a Week 5 win against the New York Giants.
In the three games since Prescott’s injury, the Cowboys have netted a combined 22 points.
Dalton, 33, struggled after taking over for Prescott. On the season, he has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 452 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in four games, two starts, this season.
DiNucci, who finished his college career at James Madison, hit on 21 of 40 passes for 180 yards in his first NFL start against the Eagles. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass or an interception but lost a pair of fumbles and was sacked four times.
Dallas remains in the hunt in the lackluster NFC East, where it trails Philadelphia by 1 1/2 games for the division lead. But fixing the stagnant offense won’t be easy without the regular QB, McCarthy said.
“No. 1, it starts with Dak,” McCarthy said. “Anytime an offense loses its starting quarterback … I mean, he was playing at a high level.”