With the injury to Dak Prescott, Trey Lance would finally have his shot. The Cowboys wouldn’t risk putting him in with so much at stake, yet, the Cowboys haven’t put him in when nothing was at stake. This is clearly signaling the end of the line with the Cowboys for Lance.
Trey Lance Unlikely to Have Another Season with the Cowboys in 2025
High Hopes at the Start of the Season
At first, it appeared that Trey Lance would get to show his skills. Jerry Jones confirmed in preseason that the young talent would have his place on the roster in the 2024 season. However, nothing amounted to that promise. Sure, Lance is on the team, but he isn’t contributing to the wins or losses the team receives.
While Prescott was healthy, it was obvious that they weren’t going to put Lance in unless the Cowboys led the game. Leads weren’t the Cowboys strength. Early in the season, the Cowboys struggled offensively and defensively with nothing connecting. Once Prescott was injured, it felt like the perfect chance to see what was possible with Trey Lance. But Mike McCarthy ripped the rug out on those dreams – no chance because the Cowboys organization still felt like Cooper Rush was their best opportunity to win games. There was still hope for the playoffs, after all.
But on the cusp of one of the worst Cowboys seasons in a very long time, Lance still was never given a true opportunity at QB. The Cowboys would put him on the field for particular plays, but wouldn’t give him a stretch to build his skills with. More than anything, it shows how unlikely the Cowboys are to ever truly give Lance an opportunity to prove himself.
Lance’s and Rush’s Contracts Both Expiring
It doesn’t help that the Cowboys are paying Lance nearly twice as much as Cooper Rush. Rush is currently sitting with a contract paying him $2.5 million a year. On the other hand, Lance is riding the bench for over $5 million. He’s holding on to cap money and not on the field. It makes no sense to keep him now, especially because the Cowboys never saw what they had with him.
Rush runs in a system similar to Dak Prescott. Lance as a dual-threat QB carries a different skill set and needs an almost entirely different playbook to show off his capabilities. So when it comes to who is most likely to come back, it must be Rush. However, it could easily be neither. After going 4-4 with a good chance to finish the season 4-5, Rush isn’t exactly the best take either. Against a fellow backup QB in the Kenny Pickett of the Eagles, he just wasn’t effective. Although the Cowboys offense had the ball the same number of plays as the Eagles, they were stumped where the Eagles aired it out over the top. Because of this, it’s more likely that the Cowboys cut both Lance and Rush to start fresh next season.
Trey Lance Deserves Another Opportunity Elsewhere
There’s still no telling what Lance could do with the right offensive structure. Although the Cowboys and Lance didn’t piece together well, his time in the NFL might not be over yet. Lance’s ability to be a rushing QB fits what a lot of other teams are still looking for. Guys like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen stay in MVP talks because of their ability to run the ball and be amazing passers. With a coach who believes in running the ball and has the patience to develop him, he could still be an incredible player – just not for the Cowboys.
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