Every NFL season, the preseason offers teams a vital opportunity to assess key position battles and make strategic decisions. This year, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in the thick of such evaluations, primarily revolving around their backup quarterback slot behind the undisputed starter, Dak Prescott.
Quarterback Conundrum: Rush vs. Lance
The primary contenders for the Cowboys' backup quarterback position in 2024 are Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. Rush, a 30-year-old undrafted talent from Central Michigan, has been in the NFL since 2017. During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he stepped in for an injured Prescott and led Dallas to victory in five of his six starts. This preseason, he has completed 3 of 6 passes for 50 yards.
On the other hand, Trey Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was acquired by the Cowboys from the San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round pick last year. At 24 years old, Lance is a younger talent with a lot of potential. Notably, he threw his first touchdown in Dallas' preseason victory over the Raiders. Despite the fierce competition, team insiders have indicated that both quarterbacks bring valuable skill sets to the table.
High Praise and Strategic Evaluations
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is optimistic about the team's quarterback situation. "I think just like anything, you play this all the way out. You can never have enough good quarterbacks, and we got three good ones. We're fortunate," said McCarthy. He further noted that Rush has been particularly impressive this preseason. "Cooper is the same man every single day. He is super consistent. He is on top of his game. I think if you look at his snaps that he has had this year, definitely quality over quantity. This is clearly, in my time with him, his best camp. His decision-making has been on point. I think his footwork and some of the things he's done have been impressive," McCarthy added.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones echoed similar sentiments about Rush. "Cooper Rush is someone that I am really impressed with out here, too. He's had a great camp," Jones said. Jones also expressed optimism about Lance’s development. "I saw obvious improvement. That's promising because he does have a lot of improvement to have, but he's got all the tools. He's got the mettle. You saw that mettle clicking in and adjustments that he hadn’t made, let’s say as early as the week before. That's pretty promising the way he played out there Saturday." Though improvements have been noted, Jones emphasized the need for Lance to continue getting reps, indicating that the journey is far from over for the young quarterback.
Looking Ahead to the Final Preseason Game
This evaluation period will culminate in the Cowboys' final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Both Rush and Lance are slated to get more playtime, offering one last chance to solidify their roles before the regular season kicks off. As Jones mentioned, the challenge will be finding enough reps for Lance moving forward. "The issue is after preseason, how does he get his reps without something negative happening with Dak or, in this particular case, Cooper Rush?" Jones questioned.
While Lance’s continued development is crucial, Jones has affirmed his spot on the roster: "I'd like to see us really be able to have our quarterbacking depth. Specifically talking about No. 19 [Lance]. ... I'd like to see him get some more work in this weekend, that would be number one. Do I need to see any more from Trey Lance? The answer is yes, but he's going to be on the 53."
As the Cowboys head into the 2024 NFL season, the upcoming final preseason game will be pivotal for both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. Whether they can turn head-to-head competition into a mutually beneficial learning experience will likely influence the Cowboys’ strategy moving forward. With McCarthy and Jones expressing confidence in their quarterback depth, Dallas seems well-prepared to face the challenges of a grueling NFL season.