Someone might be trying to speak “Daniel Jones, Dallas Cowboy,” into existence.
Jones, the now ex-Giants franchise quarterback, asked for and was granted his release early Friday.
NFL fans, for largely comedic reasons, have called for Jones to sign with the rival Cowboys ahead of the forthcoming Thanksgiving clash between the two rivals.
Then, on Friday, Jones was actually shown as part of the Cowboys on their online roster, though he has not yet signed with a new team.
The link, which initially had Jones as a member of the roster, no longer shows him on the team.
The link now sends users to the main Cowboys roster page.
As the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported, the Jones player card was likely made so the Cowboys could use it in articles and there was “nothing to see here.”
The Cowboys have also since worked quickly to shut down any potential rumors as they continue to trot out Cooper Rush as Dak Prescott sits out with a season-ending injury.
Despite being down to career backup in Rush and an unproven Trey Lance, the Cowboys’ brain trust insisted that they’re not in the market for the ex-Giant Jones, who is in the second of a four-year, $160 million extension.
“No, I think we’re in good shape at our quarterback spot,” assured Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones. “We think Cooper (Rush) gives us the best chance to win right now. And certainly, we still want to see some. We’ll kind of see how the season goes here. We still really want to see (Trey) Lance and like what he brings to the table. And then, of course, long term, we all know we made our commitment to Dak (Prescott) for the long term.”
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy also did his part to ensure that the Jones to Dallas rumors don’t persist.
“I’ve never really been in the business of looking at players based off the team they are released from, especially with the timing of the next game,” McCarthy said in a conference call on Friday. “He was a prospect I really liked coming out, but we kind of have our head down right now and really focused on working with the guys we have here.”
Both Rush and Lance are set to hit free agency after the season.
Rush has been with the Cowboys since the 2017 season, making five starts in 2022 and playing decent enough to keep the team afloat at 4-1 during that period.
Last week, Rush completed 32 of 55 passes for 354 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the Cowboys’ 34-10 “Monday Night Football” loss to the Texans.
It was Rush’s second start of the season.
Lance was acquired before the 2023 season in exchange for a fourth-round pick after the 49ers selected him at No. 3 overall in 2021.
He never became the full-time starter in San Francisco and was later beaten out by the last overall pick in 2022 — Mr. Irrelevant and current starter Brock Purdy — before being traded.
The North Dakota State alum has made one appearance in two years for the Cowboys.
And, of course, Prescott’s untimely hamstring injury — which required surgery — comes in the first of a four-year, $240 million extension, which he signed prior to Week 1, giving him the richest contract in NFL history.
The Cowboys are 3-7 and will be in Washington, D.C., to face the 7-4 Commanders this week.
