FRISCO — This is Trey Lance’s time.
The Cowboys will have a quarterback battle for the No. 2 spot when training camp starts in late July, and it involves Lance.
You remember Lance?
The Cowboys gave up a 2024 fourth-round selection to the 49ers before the 2023 season to get the former first-round pick as a backup to Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.
With the entire quarterback group without a contract for 2025, the only certainty at the position is Prescott is the starter. Then there’s everybody else.
Prescott’s future also is uncertain. Despite team officials saying he’s the long-term quarterback for the franchise, until that contract is secure the future is unknown.
What we do know is Lance and Rush are competing to support Prescott. And QB1 is impressed with Lance.
“He works his a-- off,” Prescott said. “He’s pushing me. I can tell you that. I don’t like to let other people get more reps than me. Trey’s the person I’ve got to watch because he’s trying to get up there in rep count. It’s a testament to him and how he’s putting into this. I’ve seen him, and he’s gotten better. Yeah, he can play.”
Outside of training camp practices, Lance will need the three preseason games to show he can beat out Rush.
It’s expected the Cowboys will keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, and let’s not forget Rush won four of five games when Prescott was out with a fractured thumb in 2022.
This isn’t an easy task for Lance.
“My mindset really hasn’t changed,” Lance said. “I haven’t really attacked this offseason any differently. Just going out and controlling what I can control and continue to learn the offense, continue to work with these guys and coaching staff.”
Lance hasn’t played much football, even going back to North Dakota State. In 19 games, spanning three seasons, he threw for 2,947 yards with 30 touchdowns and one interception. The 49ers saw his potential and selected him No. 3 overall in the 2021 draft. He was one of five quarterbacks taken in the first round and only one, Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville), remains with their original team.
That shows how difficult it is to evaluate quarterbacks. And when you find one, it’s going to cost a team to keep him long-term.
Lance dealt with injuries in two seasons (eight games, four starts) with the 49ers. The emergence of Brock Purdy pushed the 49ers to move on from him.
The Cowboys like Lance’s potential, maybe as a future replacement for Prescott or as a backup.
“He needs reps and you’re trying to give him as many reps as you can throughout this offseason program,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “He will take a large part of the preseason, that’s the design. Him and I talk about preseason quite often. That’s what we’re building towards.”
Lance isn’t going anywhere, unless he plays so poorly the team is forced to release him. And even that’s remote given his 2024 salary of $5.3 million is fully guaranteed.
The sure thing for Lance is to compete and earn the No. 2 job. Last year was about learning the offense with the projection that he would become the No. 2.
“Learned a lot about myself, who I am on and off the field,” Lance said. “I feel like this offseason, I’ve had my best, mentally, physically and spiritually. Just knowing who I am where I am and being able to be the best.”
When the Cowboys traded for Lance it generated excitement about a possible challenge for Prescott, who responded with an MVP-type season despite the wild-card playoff loss to Green Bay.
Prescott is in command of the No. 1 gig.
NFL teams always think about the future, and Lance can make things interesting if he emerges as a threat to Prescott. He’s got a chance to make his case now.
“As long as he’s getting better, I promise you I’m getting better. I encourage it,” Prescott said. “I hope he pushes me. I hope he makes people think. I know who I’ll be and I know who I am and confident in the person and player that I am. I hope he pushes me.”
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