With Prescott’s hamstring injury making him seem destined to miss at least four games on injured reserve, the Cowboys should make it a priority to play Lance at QB.
DALLAS — In the aftermath of Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury and its potentially ominous consequences, Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer provided a lengthy and detailed scouting report on third-team quarterback Trey Lance.
Schottenheimer mentioned Lance is often the last player off the practice field, that his system knowledge and physical skills have improved and that’s he’s fully engaged in one of the best quarterback rooms that Schottenheimer has seen, one where all three players desire only what’s best for the team.
Then, while speaking to Lance’s acumen diagramming plays, Schottenheimer mentioned that Lance has amazing handwriting.
With the handwriting on the wall in this disastrous Cowboys season, it’s time for the Cowboys to play Lance.
The Cowboys justified trading a fourth-round pick before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline to the Panthers for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo because of his potential value beyond the current season. They should use the rationale to determine the capabilities of Lance, also acquired in a trade for a fourth-round pick.
I’ve always believed one of the reasons Jerry Jones traded for Lance – drafted third overall by the San Francisco 49ers – was to bring to the roster a young quarterback who created options and possibility leverage for the front office in their contract negotiations with Prescott.
That explains the Cowboys dedicating their most recent preseason to providing Lance opportunities. He led all NFL players in passing yards and rushing yards in the 2024 preseason.
Unfortunately, in the final preseason game, Lance threw three interceptions and – while Mike McCarthy praised him and Jones guaranteed him a roster spot – he was clearly not a threat to Prescott, not then and not eventually.
So the leverage and option concept never materialized as the Cowboys reluctantly lost another contract negotiation to their quarterback and made Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history, just hours before their season opener in Cleveland.
But now, with Prescott’s hamstring injury making him seem destined to miss at least four games on injured reserve, the Cowboys should make it a priority to provide Lance his first regular-season playing time in a Dallas uniform.
The Cowboys know what Cooper Rush is – a valuable backup NFL quarterback who can capably execute their offense.
They need to evaluate Lance before making the decision this offseason on whether to further invest in him. They should build his trade value or create a market for him that would prompt another team to sign him to a contract that would yield a compensatory pick for Dallas.
Jerry and Stephen Jones were effusive when hiring McCarthy five years ago, citing his ability to coach and develop quarterbacks as differentiating McCarthy from others who interviewed for the job. McCarthy also devoutly believes in the benefits of the Quarterback School his teams incorporate into their weekly game preparations.
When asked about Lance this week, McCarthy said, “Trey Lance just needs to play’’ and “he’s ready to go as the No. 2 quarterback.’’
We will see how the week and game plan evolve, but McCarthy did not immediately seem interested in creating a package of plays for Lance, much less starting him to the detriment of Rush.
The priority, McCarthy said, is winning games and building on what they did well offensively against the Falcons.
“It really doesn’t change anything with us,’’ McCarthy said. “We’ve always invested all the time and energy into the quarterback that has the football. So now it’s Cooper’s turn, and Dak will be part of that process. We’ll rally around him and make sure that we do everything we can to make sure that he’s prepared. We’ll just keep going about it the way we’ve gone about it.”
In his Tuesday radio appearance with The Fan, Jones seemed far more interested in dedicating some playing time to Lance.
It’s understandable that McCarthy and Jones seem to be at cross purposes with regard to Lance.
Considering his proprietary interest in the success of the franchise, Jones should be motivated to have Lance play. That’s the only way Lance can demonstrate his value and maybe lessen the criticism toward the GM who made that trade and in the process seems to have cost the Cowboys a chance to draft a top running back that could have been useful.
Of course, McCarthy’s priority is winning games in his contract year for his own sake as well as for the financial security of his coaching staff. Jones made that approach necessary by declining to extend McCarthy’s contract following three consecutive 12-win seasons.
At 3-5, the Cowboys are perilously close to having the worst record in the NFC. Carolina, New York Giants and New Orleans are all 2-7. In fairness to McCarthy and his objectives, the Buccaneers, Rams and Packers all had losing records through eight games last season and made the playoffs.
“Cooper Rush is as respected as a backup quarterback that I would say since Rich Gannon when I was with Rich in the ‘90s with the Kansas City Chiefs,’’ McCarthy said. “He carries that type of credibility. He’s a great teammate. He’s someone you can see the young guys lean on. He’s wicked smart, instinctive. Does a great job when he runs the scout team. He just does everything the right way. He’s an excellent pro. There will be plenty of confidence in him.’’
Rush went 4-1 as the starter for an injured Prescott in 2022, but that success followed a strategy of avoiding mistakes and allowing Dan Quinn’s defense to pressure opponents into mistakes while denying points.
This is not that team.
Their current three-game losing streak is their longest since McCarthy’s first season in Dallas. While four of their next five game are at home, they’re yet to win at home and instead experienced some of their worst defeats there.
The Cowboys have had 36 playoff teams in franchise history. Only one of them, the 2018 team, started 3-5 and made the postseason. That came when the Cowboys traded at the deadline for a wide receiver.
Perhaps that explains the trade the Cowboys made Tuesday, another where the Cowboys endured criticism for overpaying. Be assured, Mingo is no Amari Cooper at this point in his career.
The reality is this Cowboys team is closer to the top of the draft than to Super Bowl contention.
They don’t have to tank to lose games and improve their draft position. That’s likely to happen naturally. But the Cowboys will benefit the most if Lance is playing quarterback in Prescott’s absence – and maybe for the remainder of this otherwise lost season.
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