Kellen Moore 'Poaches' Ex Cowboys QB from Patriots to Chargers

Kellen Moore 'Poaches' Ex Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott Backup QB Will Grier from Patriots to Chargers

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys couldn't quite use Will Grier, not after this summer's trade for Trey Lance.

And the 3-11 New England Patriots - a team with a historically horrible offense - couldn't quite use Grier, either, as coach Bill Belichick has let him rot on his practice squad.

But now new life for Dallas' preseason folk hero, as Grier, once upon a time considered a contender to be Dak Prescott's backup here, has been "poached'' off the Pats practice squad and elevated to the 53-man roster of the Los Angeles Chargers.

And why? Injured starter Justin Herbert is out for the year. His backup Easton Stick struggled in last week's blowout loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, one that got head coach Brandon Staley fired. 

So what the connection? When Grier was on the Cowboys' roster trying (but failing) to beat out Cooper Rush, he was working under the guidance of coach Kellen Moore, who was the Dallas offensive coordinator then and now holds that title for the Chargers.

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Good for Grier; it's a lost season in LA, and maybe he and Kellen can rescue each other.

Odd for Belichick, who can't find a QB who can actually play ... but who keeps letting prospects get plucked from his JV, as last week the Baltimore Ravens signed Malik Cunningham.

So Belichick and the Pats - who for whatever reason signed Grier in August after he was cut by the Cowboys at the end of training camp - now have only rotating starters Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones ... and Grier, who has thrown only 52 passes in the NFL, all with the Carolina Panthers in 2019, have a powder-blue uniform.