The Indianapolis Colts (0-1) meet the Dallas Cowboys (1-0) in an NFL preseason game on Saturday, August 19, 2017 (8/19/17) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Here's what you need to know:

Who: Indianapolis Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys

When: Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017

Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Time: 7 p.m. Eastern

TV: NFL Network

Livestream: NFL Game Pass (subscription)

Line: Cowboys -5

Kellen Moore is the backup quarterback the Dallas Cowboys hope won't have to take a meaningful snap in 2017, just as he was a year ago before an injury at training camp ended his season.

The radical difference since Moore broke his right ankle early last August is the incumbent in front of him: Dak Prescott, whose sensational rookie season kept 10-year starter Tony Romo on the bench when he was ready to return from a back injury and ultimately led the club's career passing leader to retire and go into broadcasting.

The changing face of the franchise didn't alter Moore's outlook much. He's always known his job role either way.

"He's just back here healthy, irregardless of whom the starter was a year ago or who it is now," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "He knows he's got a significant role for us. I don't think he's approaching it any different."

Linehan is the constant through the unexpected transition, and the reason Moore is going into his third season with the Cowboys. Undersized by QB standards (listed generously at 6-foot), the undrafted Moore made a connection with Linehan in Detroit out of Boise State in 2012.

Both are from eastern Washington, and Linehan likes to joke about his family's issues with his close relationship with a hated rival since Linehan went to Idaho. Kidding aside, Linehan simply thinks there isn't a quarterback smarter than Moore, or better-suited to carry out his game plan.

"For me it's coming up on five of my six years," the 28-year-old Moore said of his link to Linehan. "You kind of understand the way he thinks of football, his process and his way of thinking and his terminology. All of that stuff kind of adds up when you speak the same language. It's important."

Moore didn't take a regular-season snap all three years he was with the Lions, and only got into games with the Cowboys at the end of a lost 2015 season when Romo was hurt most of the season and backups Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel failed badly.

The 28-year-old Moore lost the final two games as a starter in a 4-12 season, throwing six interceptions in three games overall.

But he did have a 400-yard passing game in the finale and four touchdowns total. And the Cowboys obviously have faith in him, because they signed him as a free agent coming off the ankle injury.

Last season, Moore was one of the voices in an interesting quarterback room for the suddenly blooming Prescott. Romo, whose back injury in a preseason game completed Prescott's ascension , was in his 14th season; Moore had several years in Linehan's system; and backup Mark Sanchez had experience as a rookie starter.

Instead of sitting in the background with Romo in control, Moore had a much more active role as a voice for Prescott.

"Kellen does such a good job just contributing," said coach Jason Garrett, who was the backup to Troy Aikman when the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls in the 1990s.

"And he can contribute a lot of different ways as a backup quarterback, just in that room, making that room feel like it is a good place for the guy that's starting and everything he goes through and then just having a positive impact on everybody on offense and throughout the team."

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.