Falcons elevate Morris to coach

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons named defensive coordinator Raheem Morris interim head coach on Monday after firing Dan Quinn.

Morris is in his sixth season with the Falcons and his first season as defensive coordinator.

The Falcons fired Quinn on Sunday night, hours after the team fell to 0-5 for the first time since 1997 with a 23-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Falcons owner Arthur Blank also fired longtime general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

When firing Quinn and Dimitroff, the Falcons announced team president Rich McKay would take control of football operations on an interim basis and also assist Blank in the search for a full-time coach and general manager.

Morris could become a candidate for the full-time job if the Falcons, who play at Minnesota on Sunday, can revive their season. Morris was coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011. His team finished 10-6 in 2010, marking the best turnaround in franchise history following a 3-13 finish in 2009.

The Falcons named linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator. Also, Bernie Parmalee, who had been running backs coach, was named special teams coordinator. Will Harriger, who had been game management coordinator, was named running backs coach. Ben Kotwica, who had been special teams coordinator, was fired.

Cowboys sign QB Gilbert

The Cowboys signed Garrett Gilbert, former Texas and SMU quarterback, to the 53-man roster off the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad to provide depth behind Andy Dalton in the wake of Dak Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury, according to multiple reports. Gilbert cannot provide immediate support at the position, however, because of COVID-19 protocols.

Gilbert must first complete a six-day screening process for the virus before he can join the team. That means Ben DiNucci, a rookie seventh-round pick, will serve as the team’s No. 2 quarterback behind Dalton leading up to next Monday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Odds and ends

Giants edge rusher Lorenzo Carter is done for the season after rupturing the Achilles tendon in his left foot in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys. … Kyle Allen will start at quarterback Sunday for Washington at the New York Giants if he’s healthy, coach Ron Rivera said. Allen was knocked out of Sunday’s game against the Rams with a second-quarter arm injury, and he was replaced by Alex Smith.