Cowboys acquire veteran QB Matt Cassel from Bills

The Dallas Cowboys have traded for Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Cassel, the team announced.

The deal is reportedly for a 2017 fifth-round draft pick, with the Bills sending Cassel and a 2017 seventh-round pick to the Cowboys, Albert Breer of NFL Network reports.

With starting quarterback Tony Romo out for a minimum of eight weeks after being placed on injured reserve/designation to return with a fractured collarbone, the Cowboys needed to bring in some depth behind Brandon Weeden.

Weeden will start on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, but the move will give the Cowboys another veteran quarterback option if Weeden fails to deliver.

The Cowboys also added a third quarterback to their active roster, promoting Kellen Moore from their practice squad.

The Bills released Cassel during the team's final cuts, but re-signed him several days later for a reduced salary of $2.15 million with incentives, which the Cowboys will now assume.

Cassel was presumably deemed expendable by the Bills after being beaten out for the starting job by Tyrod Taylor. But he has several years of starting experience with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings.