Maybe someone is trying to bring “Daniel Jones, Dallas Cowboy” into existence.
Jones, a former Giants franchise quarterback, requested and was granted his release early Friday.
NFL fans, largely for comedic reasons, have called for Jones to sign with the rival Cowboys before the upcoming Thanksgiving matchup between the two rivals.
Then, on Friday, Jones actually appeared as part of the Cowboys' roster online, though he has yet to sign with a new team.
The link, which Jones was initially a member of on the roster, no longer shows him on the team.
The link now sends users to the Cowboys main roster page.
As the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported, 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 worked quickly since then to shut down any potential rumors as they continue to chase Cooper Rush while Dak Prescott is out with a season-ending injury.
Despite their return to a backup career in Rush and an unproven Trey Lance, the Cowboys' brain trust insisted they are not in the market for former 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 position,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed. “We think Cooper (Rush) gives us the best chance to win right now. And of course, we still want to see some. We'll see how the season goes here. We still really want to see (Trey) Lance and like what he gives us. And then, of course, in the long term We all know we made our commitment to Dak (Prescott) for the long term.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy also did his part to make sure Jones to Dallas rumors don't continue.
“I never look at players based on which team they were released from, especially with the timing of the next game,” McCarthy said on a conference call Friday. “He was a prospect I really liked going out, but we're kind of comfortable now and really focused on working with the guys we have here.”
Both Rush and Lance are scheduled to hit free agency after the season.
Rush has been with the Cowboys since the 2017 season, making five appearances in 2022 and playing well enough to keep the team afloat at 4-1 during that span.
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 third overall in 2021.
He never became a full-time starter in San Francisco, and was subsequently lost by the last overall pick in 2022 — the unrelated Mr. and current rookie Brock Purdy — before being traded.
The North Dakota State alum made one appearance in two years with the Cowboys.
And, of course, Prescott's sudden hamstring injury — which required surgery — comes on top of the first of the four-year, $240 million extension he signed before Week 1, giving him the richest contract in NFL history.
The Cowboys are 3-7 and will be in Washington, D.C. to take on the 7-4 leaders this week.
