“Ups and Downs: Trey Lance Shows Potential and Struggles in Cowboys’ Preseason Finale”
ARLINGTON, Texas — On Saturday, Trey Lance showed flashes of his first-round potential, but also had moments where he seemed at risk of being cut.
Despite the ups and downs, the 24-year-old quarterback will remain on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster for the 2024 season. However, his preseason performance wasn’t strong enough to challenge Cooper Rush for the backup quarterback role.
Lance managed 323 passing yards and scored two touchdowns, but also threw five interceptions in the Cowboys’ 26-19 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Definitely a mix of highs and lows,” Lance admitted from the Cowboys’ locker room at AT&T Stadium. “I turned the ball over too many times. … But my confidence is still intact. This one hurts, and it’s not something I’ll forget soon, but it’s part of the process. You have to move on and learn.”
Lance’s turnovers were unexpected, considering his track record of just two interceptions during his entire college career. He had excelled in ball security during training camp and the first two preseason games.
“It’s unfortunate about the interceptions because Lance did show some positive signs out there,” said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. “There were good moments, and others he’d probably like to redo. But overall, I’m glad to see what he brought to the field.”
Jones, who had already committed to Lance being on the 53-man roster, saw nothing on Saturday to change that. He remains impressed with Lance’s athleticism and the notable improvement seen over the last six weeks.
“The trajectory is upward, and he’s progressing significantly with each practice and game,” Jones added. “I saw elements out there that can lead to wins. Truly.”
When asked if he regretted trading for Lance a year ago, Jones confidently responded, “For a fourth-round pick? Absolutely not. Sure, we got Dak (Prescott) in the fourth round, but we’ve had picks that didn’t pan out, too.”
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy emphasized that Lance needed more reps, which he received during the team’s three preseason games. Prescott didn’t play in any, while Rush played just a few series in the first two games and sat out the final one. Lance attempted 113 passes over the preseason, 49 of which came in the last game. Overall, he completed 73 passes for 662 yards, threw two touchdowns, five interceptions, and finished with a 67.8 passer rating. He also rushed 11 times for 90 yards and a touchdown in the final game, bringing his preseason total to 24 carries for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
Before Saturday’s game, Prescott praised Lance during a CBS 11 local TV broadcast, saying, “I expect his best performance. He’s growing more comfortable every day. Since he arrived, his improvement has been tremendous. His confidence is high, and I believe he’ll have a great game.”
Lance’s rushing ability has always stood out, highlighted by a 46-yard touchdown run down the left sideline late in the third quarter. His passing game also started strong, completing 7 of his first 8 attempts for 62 yards, including a notable 25-yard pass to wide receiver Tyron Billy-Johnson near the left sideline.