Dallas Cowboys' coach Barry Switzer has quarterback options rather than option quarterbacks.
This Dallas Cowboys team of question marks and quarterbacks probably will attempt to clinch a third consecutive NFC East championship against the Philadelphia Eagles with Rodney Peete in the starting lineup for the first time this season on Dec. 4 at Veterans Stadium.Troy Aikman, who hoped to play against the Eagles, said Friday he probably will remain sidelined because of his sprained left knee. Meanwhile, Switzer said he is inclined to take a conservative approach with Aikman because of the team's proven depth at QB, particularly after third-teamer Jason Garrett's winning performance against Green Bay on Thursday.
"I would like to think we could play without Troy for another week," Switzer said. "I hope Troy is not pushing it. He wants to be back as soon as he can, and we want him back. But he doesn't have the mobility you want. You could get him hurt again and lose him for the season."
The second NFL team to surpass the NFL's $34.6 million salary cap this season, the Cowboys almost certainly will lose quarterback Tommy Hodson for the season. The Cowboys are $7,994 over the cap and have until Tuesday to conform to the league salary limit. Switzer said Hodson, signed last week, will be released.
But otherwise the team's depth chart remains unchanged at the position after Garrett threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers.
"Troy is No. 1, Rodney is No. 2 and Jason is No. 3," offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese said. "If Troy is ready to play, then Troy plays. When Troy says he is ready to play, he plays."
But the Cowboys presume Aikman will miss another week and that Peete will recover from a sprained right thumb and take his place in the starting lineup. If Peete's condition prevents him from starting, Switzer said the team is confident he could perform as the backup to Garrett, with Aikman the third quarterback against the Eagles.
"I think right now it would be very optimistic on my part to think I could play in this one," Aikman said. "I won't practice until I can drop back, which I couldn't do today. Maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, I can do that. If I can drop back on this leg and all that happens is there is a little pain, I'll drop back on the leg.
"If I was taking the conservative approach to all the injuries I've had, I would not have come back from any of them when I did. In all likelihood, I will ask to be put in before it is 100 percent. But I don't play unless I feel I can protect myself and do the things asked of me."