The Dallas Cowboys, who are winless in three games without Tony Romo as their starting quarterback, intend to start Matt Cassel under center when they return from their bye week, a league source told ESPN.
Brandon Weeden, who has been the starter during Dallas' three-game losing streak, was informed by Cowboys coaches that Cassel will start in Week 7 against the New York Giants, according to the source.
Cassel, who was acquired in a trade with the Bills after Romo was injured in Week 2, was promoted to the No. 2 quarterback spot last week ahead of Kellen Moore.
Cassel spent his first two games with the Cowboys as the inactive third quarterback but recently said he is comfortable with the playbook and can execute the offense.
The quarterback switch comes after the Cowboys lost to the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots while failing to score a touchdown for the first time since 2011. In that game, Weeden completed five of 15 passes thrown more than five yards down the field, with the first completion on such attempts coming with the Cowboys trailing 20-3.
After the game, owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys would devote themselves to playing better football and improving the offense, hinting at a potential quarterback change.
"We have to play better on offense, and that usually includes better quarterback play,'' Jones said.
Weeden, who has lost 11 consecutive NFL starts, has protected the football for the most part but has struggled to create big plays without Dez Bryant and Lance Dunbar in the lineup. The Cowboys had leads against both the Falcons and Saints but lost both largely because of the failure of their defenses.
Romo must miss at least four more games before he's eligible to come off the IR-designated to return list.
Cassel has more experience than Weeden, with 96 touchdown passes, 70 interceptions and 15,727 yards passing for his career. In 2008, he took over for an injured Tom Brady and had a 10-5 record, but the Patriots missed the playoffs. He was traded the following year to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he lasted four seasons and made one trip to the playoffs (2010). He signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 and was dealt to the Bills last March.
With Tyrod Taylor winning Buffalo's starting job in training camp, the Bills traded Cassel to the Cowboys on Sept. 22. He was inactive for his first two games before serving as Weeden's backup against the Patriots.
Last week, Cassel said he felt more comfortable in knowing the Cowboys' offense.
"Well, he's certainly comfortable enough," coach Jason Garrett said Monday. "We wouldn't have put him in that situation (Sunday) to be the backup quarterback with a possibility of going into the game if something were to happen to Brandon. He's worked hard, he's a veteran player, he's a smart guy, he's been here for a little bit. There are always levels of knowing something. The more you're around something the more experienced you are with the people doing it together, the better you're going to be at it. But he's certainly comfortable with our system."
Information from ESPN.com Cowboys reporter Todd Archer was used in this report.
Brandon Weeden, who has been the starter during Dallas' three-game losing streak, was informed by Cowboys coaches that Cassel will start in Week 7 against the New York Giants, according to the source.
Cassel, who was acquired in a trade with the Bills after Romo was injured in Week 2, was promoted to the No. 2 quarterback spot last week ahead of Kellen Moore.
Cassel spent his first two games with the Cowboys as the inactive third quarterback but recently said he is comfortable with the playbook and can execute the offense.
The quarterback switch comes after the Cowboys lost to the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots while failing to score a touchdown for the first time since 2011. In that game, Weeden completed five of 15 passes thrown more than five yards down the field, with the first completion on such attempts coming with the Cowboys trailing 20-3.
After the game, owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys would devote themselves to playing better football and improving the offense, hinting at a potential quarterback change.
"We have to play better on offense, and that usually includes better quarterback play,'' Jones said.
Weeden, who has lost 11 consecutive NFL starts, has protected the football for the most part but has struggled to create big plays without Dez Bryant and Lance Dunbar in the lineup. The Cowboys had leads against both the Falcons and Saints but lost both largely because of the failure of their defenses.
Romo must miss at least four more games before he's eligible to come off the IR-designated to return list.
Cassel has more experience than Weeden, with 96 touchdown passes, 70 interceptions and 15,727 yards passing for his career. In 2008, he took over for an injured Tom Brady and had a 10-5 record, but the Patriots missed the playoffs. He was traded the following year to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he lasted four seasons and made one trip to the playoffs (2010). He signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 and was dealt to the Bills last March.
With Tyrod Taylor winning Buffalo's starting job in training camp, the Bills traded Cassel to the Cowboys on Sept. 22. He was inactive for his first two games before serving as Weeden's backup against the Patriots.
Last week, Cassel said he felt more comfortable in knowing the Cowboys' offense.
"Well, he's certainly comfortable enough," coach Jason Garrett said Monday. "We wouldn't have put him in that situation (Sunday) to be the backup quarterback with a possibility of going into the game if something were to happen to Brandon. He's worked hard, he's a veteran player, he's a smart guy, he's been here for a little bit. There are always levels of knowing something. The more you're around something the more experienced you are with the people doing it together, the better you're going to be at it. But he's certainly comfortable with our system."
Information from ESPN.com Cowboys reporter Todd Archer was used in this report.
