Trey Lance’s rollercoaster offseason has ended on a low note, as the Dallas Cowboys announced that the former first-round draft pick will serve as the team’s No. 3 quarterback this season.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy revealed that Cooper Rush would serve as the backup QB behind Dak Prescott . While the 60-year-old was impressed by the growth that Lance displayed during the preseason, he conceded that the struggling signal-caller still has room to improve in several facets of his game.
“Cooper’s taken the No. 2 reps this week, but I felt very encouraged and really excited with the growth that Trey took through the whole process,” McCarthy said. “I feel like I answer the question the same way every time. We just got to continue to develop him.
“You can see the things that he’s really focused on. The concept, footwork and things like that. It got better each week throughout the preseason.
“I thought he did a great job extending plays with his legs. Made some plays in the quarterback run phase of it. Just trying to continue that drop back passing. So, he’s making strides, and I don’t know if there is anyone on our team that benefited more from the preseason than Trey Lance.”
The Cowboys took a flyer on Lance in August of 2023, trading a 2024 fourth-round draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for his talents. The 24-year-old didn’t see the field at any point during the regular season, but was given plentiful opportunities this year to showcase his talents in the preseason.
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Over three games, Lance completed 73-of-113 (65%) passes for 662 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions. After being tasked with playing the entirety of Dallas’ preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Chargers, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft struggled mightily, turning the ball over five times .
Lance did show flashes of brilliance against the Chargers, however, leading the Cowboys in rushing yards with 90 on 11 carries. With three minutes left in the third quarter, he faked a handoff and showcased his wheels on a 46-yard touchdown run.
Back in May, the Cowboys unsurprisingly declined Lance’s fifth-year option for 2025, which would have featured a fully guaranteed $22.4 million cap hit. He is set to make $5.31 million in base salary this season - the final year of the $34.1 million rookie contract he was awarded by the 49ers.
It remains to be seen what the future holds in store for Lance, who’s failed to find his footing in the NFL despite being a highly-touted prospect. Though the quarterback has done little to increase his trade value, the Cowboys could look to trade him down the stretch should an injury-riddled team need a QB replacement.
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