SAN DIEGO – Some players get compared to another guy at their position. Some get compared to other guys around the league.
And some, such as the case with Brandon Weeden, get compared to a guy who doesn't even have a job.
The Cowboys take on the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.
Maybe that will change over time with one Kyle Orton, but for now he's referred to simply as the former backup with the Cowboys – or the guy who decided he didn't want to play for the Cowboys anymore, so he held out long enough to force the club to cut him.
Either way, his absence opened the door for Weeden, whose second chance in the NFL took place Thursday night in San Diego.
Without a doubt, Weeden passed his first test. Maybe not with flying colors since he only led the offense to one touchdown, but he set his own goals before the game, which were to function within the offense, limit the pre-snap penalties, move the chains and, of course, punch it in when the Cowboys offense got close to scoring.
And for the most part, that's what Weeden was able to do. [embedded_ad]
From the start, you could tell Weeden came out with something to prove. And why wouldn't he? He's a former first-round pick who was cut after two seasons with the "bust" label already on his back. So in his first true test, there seemed to be even more zip on his balls over the middle.
One of them surprised Dwayne Harris it seemed because he barely got his hands on a pass that appeared to be on point. Weeden's throws to Cole Beasley in the flat and to Terrance Williams over the middle were sharp and crisp.
Again, arm strength has never been an issue with Weeden, who had never played behind a line with three first-round picks like he did on the Cowboys' first drive.
