The Dallas Cowboys have signed former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Kyle Orton to a three-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Kyle Orton reached a three-year agreement with the Dallas Cowboys.

—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2012

After failing to land the NFL’s most notable free agent in Peyton Manning, the Chiefs have now lost Orton who they claimed off waivers last November after a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Matt Cassel.  In his first game as the Chiefs starter, Orton led them to a 19-14 upset over the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers.

In his six-year career, Orton has compiled a 79.4 rating, totaling 14,532 yards and 80 touchdowns.  With the Cowboys, Orton will serve as the backup to starting quarterback Tony Romo.

Former Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback Kyle Orton will start Sunday for the Kansas City Chiefs, CBSSports.com has reported. Orton was released from the Broncos after being supplanted by Tim Tebow.

“Kyle did a nice job and it looks like he’s throwing better and so we are going to start him in the game,” Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said, according to the report.

The Chiefs will play the Green Bay Packers Sunday, and Crennel sees Orton giving his team a better chance to win than former starter Tyler Palko.

One of the reasons Denver Broncos head coach John Fox cited for the timing of the release of quarterback Kyle Orton on Tuesday was to give Orton “an opportunity to help another team and showcase his talents with another team,” according to the Broncos website.  Almost every quarterback-needy team was immediately linked to the veteran passer, but two more solid reports have since emerged.

According to a  tweet from John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Texans are out of the Orton sweepstakes regardless of what tests on injured QB Matt Schaub reveal.

Texans aren’t interested in Orton. if Schaub learns Wednesday he needs surgery, they’ll sign one of vets they brought in for tryouts Monday.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears — the team that drafted Orton in 2005 and then traded him for Jay Cutler in 2009 — “have interest” in trying to claim Orton on waivers, according to a report tweeted by Chicago Tribune reporter Vaughn McClure.  The Bears are optimistic that Cutler’s thumb injury will not linger into the playoffs, and are reportedly seeking a veteran quarterback to serve as steward for the team during the end of the regular season.

The Kansas City Chiefs are also seeking veteran QB help to replace the injured Matt Cassel; there has been no report on their interest in Orton.

The Denver Broncos have reportedly waived former starting quarterback Kyle Orton today, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 29-year-old began the season as the starter for the Denver Broncos, however he was replaced by 2010 first round draft pick Tim Tebow in Week 7 after a 1-4 start. Since the switch, the Broncos have won three of their past four games. In his five starts  this season, Orton threw for 979 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Last season in 13 games, Orton threw for 3653 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while also posting a career high 87.5 passer rating. The former fourth round pick had spent three years in Denver after playing his first three seasons with the Chicago Bears.