'Total Command!' Cowboys Keeping QB Will Grier on Roster?

The Dallas Cowboys will have a difficult decision to make on quarterback Will Grier's roster status - and his preseason showing has only made it tougher.

Despite an injury-riddled 22-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Saturday night's preseason game, the Dallas Cowboys walked off Lumen Field with an informative 60 minutes of film for coach Mike McCarthy and staff to assess.

Among the biggest things on McCarthy's mind is the looming date of roster cutdowns, currently set for Aug. 29, which will feature a number of tough calls - including whether or not to carry a third quarterback on the 53-man roster.

Following last year's NFC Championship Game during which the San Francisco 49ers were forced to use running back Christian McCaffrey after quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson went down with injuries, the NFL implemented a new rule during which teams can carry a third - or "emergency" - quarterback and can play them despite not being officially active on gamedays.

The Cowboys are firmly set with quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush atop the depth chart ... but what happens with Will Grier?

The 28-year-old Grier, a third-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2019, has seen significant action during Dallas' first two preseason contests and largely turned in positive performances, completing 22 of 31 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars before following suit by hitting 13 of 18 passes for 136 yards and an interception in Seattle.

Grier noted after the game that he thought his interception was going to be a touchdown but he wasn't on the same page as receiver Simi Fehoko ... and yet, his overall outing remained impressive in McCarthy's eyes.

"I thought Will was in total command of the offense," McCarthy said. "Did an excellent job particularly in the keeps and quarterback movement schemes. I thought the scramble drill was extremely productive. I mean, if you take the one throw out of there, he probably has a good night. I think Will has put together two games where there is a lot there that excites me. He has really grown since last year."

Added Grier: "I thought I played great.” 

Was it enough to put the for the 6-1, 220-pound signal-caller to put himself on the right side of the Cowboys' roster bubble? Only time will tell - but he'll get one more chance to make a claim when Dallas hosts the Las Vegas Raiders next Saturday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. CST inside AT&T Stadium.

You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @ByDanielFlick

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