IRVING, Texas – It was widely suspected, but Cowboys coach Jason Garrett confirmed Wednesday that Kellen Moore is being promoted to the active roster.
"That will happen, but I don't know if it's official," Garrett said.
Moore has been on the Cowboys' practice squad since the start of the regular season, when the team signed him after he was released by the Lions. With Tony Romo out for eight weeks, the Cowboys traded for veteran Matt Cassel to back up Brandon Weeden on Tuesday.
That said, Cassel figures to have just a few days to acclimate to this offense, so it makes sense that the Cowboys might want an option with a bit more familiarity in the system.
"He's a veteran quarterback, so he needs to learn fast," Garrett said of Cassel. "I think, as much as anything else, the big challenge for him is to learn the terminology."
The Cowboys now have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, but Garrett wasn't ready to tip his hand about what that means for Sunday. It would make sense to let Moore be the backup while Cassel adjusts, but Garrett said that decision is day-by-day.
He also declined to say whether the Cowboys would carry all three quarterbacks on their 46-man game day roster.
"We'll see. Our third quarterback is still on an airplane," he said.
Moore's promotion to the active roster also leaves an empty space on the Cowboys' 10-man practice squad. The team will fill it by bringing back defensive end Efe Obada – the developmental defender they found in London during the offseason.
Obada was a fringe player on the Cowboys' training camp roster, and he showed progress during the summer and preseason.
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