Advertisement

sportsCowboys

49ers GM John Lynch on trading Trey Lance: Cowboys ‘stepped up and really wanted him’

Lynch spoke about the trade during NFL Network’s broadcast 49ers’ preseason game against the Chargers.

Hours after trading quarterback Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys, 49ers general manager John Lynch discussed the deal during a live broadcast of San Francisco’s preseason finale.

“We took a shot, and it didn’t work out. We own that. We take accountability for it,” Lynch said on Friday night’s 49ers-Chargers preseason broadcast on NFL Network.

Sam Darnold recently won the backup quarterback job behind Brock Purdy, putting Lance’s future in San Francisco in doubt. The 49ers traded three first-round picks to draft Lance in 2021 with the hopes of him becoming a franchise quarterback.

“I think his story is still very much unwritten,” Lynch said. “I’m excited for Trey. Dallas stepped up and really wanted him, and they came after him. I think it’s going to be a great landing spot for him.

Cowboys

Be the smartest Cowboys fan. Get the latest news.

Or with:

“I can tell everybody: It wasn’t for lack of effort on Trey’s part or on our part that it didn’t work. Circumstances took hold. He struggled through injuries, and this team is ready to win. We like our quarterback room. We like Brock Purdy a lot. We like Sam Darnold, and we like Brandon Allen. So, we wish Trey all the best in Dallas. We’ll always care about that young man and admire his work ethic and the person that he is.”

Advertisement

While Dallas will provide a new opportunity for Lance, Dak Prescott will remain the Cowboys’ starting quarterback. Dallas also brought back Cooper Rush on a two-year deal as reinforcement. Rush was crucial to the Cowboys surviving five games without Prescott last season, going 4-1 under center.

The Cowboys are poised to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, people familiar with the team’s thinking told The News’ David Moore. Will Grier will play start to finish in the final preseason game against the Raiders on Saturday, but was informed he wouldn’t be with the Cowboys moving forward, Moore reported.

Lance has completed 56 of 102 passes in his brief NFL career for 797 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions and an 84.5 passer rating. He also has rushed for 235 yards and one TD on 54 carries.

Advertisement

Lance got off to a shaky start this preseason but led two late scoring drives after coming on in relief of Purdy and Darnold the second half last week against Denver.

Related Stories
View More

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.