“Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Battle: Trey Lance vs. Cooper Rush”
There’s a possibility that the Dallas Cowboys might choose Trey Lance over Cooper Rush.
Mickey Spagnola: It’s too early to suggest this before training camp. Camp is where these decisions are made. Currently, we only know Lance by his name and his first-round draft status (No. 3 overall in 2021), and the Cowboys’ direct knowledge is limited to his workouts and scout team reps from last year.
During camp, Lance will have every opportunity to prove himself, especially in preseason games, to secure a future backup role. Keep in mind, Lance, Dak Prescott, and Rush are all in the final year of their contracts. Rush, with his 5-1 record as a starter, has far more experience than Lance, who needs to build trust.
Lance has only played in eight NFL games, starting four, all with the 49ers, and none since September 18, 2022. It’ll be interesting to see how Lance performs in actual games.
Patrik Walker: While it’s possible for Lance, the former third-overall pick, to outperform Cooper Rush in training camp and the preseason, it won’t be easy. Lance shows promise and has been developing well under McCarthy, with a full offseason likely to benefit him in July and August.
However, Rush is a formidable competitor, known as one of the better backups in the league, with strong familiarity with McCarthy, Prescott, the receivers, and the offense. This matchup is one of the top ones to watch in Oxnard, as it pits Lance’s youth and potential against Rush’s experience and proven skill.
Nick Eatman: This is a “believe it when I see it” scenario. Lance is expected to outperform Rush for the backup role in his fourth season, but he was also supposed to be the 49ers’ starting quarterback, which didn’t happen.
I would be surprised if Lance proves to be better than Rush after camp and the preseason. That said, the Cowboys might still make him the backup, as that seems to be their preference. However, based on what we’ve seen, Rush has shown a better grasp of the Cowboys’ scheme and has outperformed Lance and many other quarterbacks when called upon. If the competition is fair, Rush could still be the No. 2 quarterback heading into the season.