Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Kellen Moore suffered a gruesome injury during training camp on Tuesday and will now be out for several months. According to ESPN, Moore was stepped on by his own offensive lineman on the second-to-last snap of practice as he went to deliver a throw to the sideline. He was able to limp off to the sideline, but was later diagnosed with a broken right fibula which will require surgery.
Kellen Moore is expected to miss significant time after suffering a broken ankle.
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— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 3, 2016
After practice, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked about the injury and he obviously didn’t have a whole lot of answers at the time.
“It’s regrettable, and we’ll basically just take a look at it and address it there,” Jones said. “I don’t have any comments about what, if anything, we’ll be doing there.”
Moore’s injury leaves the Cowboys with three quarterbacks on the active roster: starter Tony Romo, rookie Dak Prescott, and second-year pro Jameill Showers. It’s unlikely that Jones would want to enter the season with only those three options, especially after Romo only appeared in three games in 2015 due to a broken collarbone.
About a week ago, the Los Angeles Rams granted quarterback Nick Foles his release after he was surpassed on the depth chart by Case Keenum and rookie Jared Goff. At the time, Jones was asked about Foles as a potential backup quarterback option and he didn’t exactly seem interested in the notion.
“Foles isn’t an option,” Jones said.
Well, that was certainly blunt, but why, Jerry?
“We can’t get him any snaps,” Jones said. “We got four that are going to get snaps.”
“We like Moore,” Jones said.
One would think that the injury to Moore would instantly change the Cowboys’ position on Foles. Although Nick had a rough 2015 season with the Rams, he’s two years removed from throwing for 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even in 2014, Foles threw for 2,163 yards and 13 touchdowns in only eight games.
Cowboys are considering Nick Foles as an option at QB, also discussing potential trades. (via @Edwerderespn ) https://t.co/tafpSl4IkF
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) August 3, 2016
In addition to being the best option on a thin free agent market, Foles is only 27 years old and the Cowboys could bring him in to groom him as the replacement for when Romo retires. Tony is 36 years old and has battled a back injury along with his broken collarbone over the last couple years. He’s not going to be around forever and Nick Foles could be a decent successor.
ESPN’s Ed Werder reported on Wednesday morning that the Cowboys will also look at potential trade options in their search for a backup quarterback.
Source says #Cowboys considering Nick Foles option as well as potential trades for backup QB after Kellen Moore injury.
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) August 3, 2016
While it makes sense for the Cowboys to do their due diligence, it’s unlikely that the team will be able to find a player as talented as Foles through trade. Teams aren’t going to be willing to part with their backup quarterbacks at this point which leaves the Cowboys looking at another team’s third-stringer as an option.
At this point, Nick Foles is the most attractive option for the Cowboys. Hopefully, Romo stays healthy the entire season and the team won’t even have to turn to a backup quarterback. But in the event that Romo gets hurt once again, having an experienced starting quarterback who has had success in the NFL, like Nick Foles, ready to back him up would go a long way towards helping the Cowboys be successful.
[Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images]
