Cowboys' Trey Lance Unsure If He'll Play vs. Commanders, Has 'No Doubt' He Can Be QB1
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVJanuary 1, 2025
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance is ready to step into the starting job if called upon for Sunday's season finale against the Washington Commanders.
Lance told reporters he doesn't know who will get the nod in Week 18, but he "absolutely" believes in himself as an NFL starter:
Jon Machota @jonmachotaCowboys QB Trey Lance doesn't know if he's going to play Sunday. He hasn't been told anything new heading into the final week of the season.<br><br>"I'll be ready if I do get an opportunity."<br><br>Does Lance believe he can be a starting QB in the NFL?<br><br>"Yeah. Absolutely. No doubt."
The Cowboys are coming off a lopsided 41-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Cooper Rush, who has started in place of an injured Dak Prescott, went 15-of-28 for 147 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Cowboys have little to play for in Week 18. They're out of the playoff race and they can't even play the spoiler role since the Commanders are locked in as a Wild Card team.
Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy indicated he's open to a QB change and giving somebody else a shot to start.
"I really like what Cooper has done and I think we all have to recognize the job he's done to this point," he said Monday. "But this is the time where you do think about—not just the quarterback position, but all the positions—making sure we do have information on our younger players. Frankly, we probably have a lot based on how much [the non-quarterbacks] have played."
If McCarthy does bench Rush, a lot of fans will read into whether Lance or Will Grier, who's on the practice squad, gets the call.
In bypassing Lance, the coach would be saying a lot in how he views the 2021 first-round pick.
Grier hasn't started an NFL game since 2019, and his two appearances saw him throw for 228 yards and four interceptions. You'd think Lance could beat him out in a head-to-head QB battle, and failing to do so would be a concerning sign.
In the event Lance is the choice, Week 18 would present an opportunity to provide a good lasting image before he hits free agency in the offseason. A strong performance could entice another team to sign him as a backup with a possible path to the starting job if the stars align.
Whereas the stakes for the Cowboys are low Sunday, Lance might have a lot on the line.
