Every NFL team leverages the preseason to assess key position battles. For the Dallas Cowboys, the quarterback position remains under the microscope, particularly the backup role behind their undisputed starter, Dak Prescott.
As the Cowboys navigate the 2024 preseason, the battle for the backup quarterback role features two primary contenders: Cooper Rush and Trey Lance. Cooper Rush, a 30-year-old undrafted talent from Central Michigan, has been a staple in the NFL since 2017. Notably, Rush has delivered commendably, guiding Dallas to victories in five of his six starts when he filled in for an injured Prescott during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Rush's consistency and game-management skills have not gone unnoticed. Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys’ head coach, has lauded Rush's steady performance, noting, "Cooper is the same man every single day. He is super consistent. He is on top of his game."
Rush's preseason performance this year has generally been satisfactory. Completing 3 of 6 passes for 50 yards, he has shown flashes of his reliability. Jerry Jones, the Cowboys' owner and general manager, echoed McCarthy's sentiments, saying, "Cooper Rush is someone that I am real impressed with out here, too. He's had a great camp." Quality over quantity has been the mantra for Rush's appearances, and it appears to have worked well for him.
On the other side of the backup quarterback equation is Trey Lance. The 24-year-old quarterback was the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round pick last year. Lance's talent is evident, and he has shown promising signs during this preseason. His first touchdown pass in Dallas' victory over the Raiders stands as a testament to his potential. However, the road to solidifying his spot in the team is still under construction. "I saw obvious improvement. That's promising because he does have a lot of improvement to have, but he's got all the tools," Jones remarked about Lance’s recent performances. This sentiment underscores both the hope and the uncertainty surrounding Lance's journey with the Cowboys.
Lance’s inclusion in the 53-man roster has already been confirmed by Jones, providing some stability for the player as he continues to refine his game. As always with a promising young quarterback, the focus is not just on the present but on his development trajectory. "The issue is after preseason, how does he get his reps without something negative happening with Dak or, in this particular case, Cooper Rush?" Jones pondered, hinting at the complexities of managing quarterback depth in the regular season.
Mike McCarthy, ever the strategist, has maintained a positive outlook on the depth at the position. "I think just like anything, you play this all the way out. You can never have enough good quarterbacks, and we got three good ones. We're fortunate," McCarthy stated, encapsulating the philosophy driving the Cowboys' approach to their quarterback corps.
With the final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers looming, the stakes are high for both Rush and Lance. McCarthy and Jones will be watching keenly, evaluating each snap, each decision, and each throw. "I'd like to see us really be able to have our quarterbacking depth. Specifically talking about No. 19 [Lance]… I'd like to see him get some more work in this weekend, that would be number one," Jones elaborated, hinting at the importance of these final moments in the preseason.
The Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a uniquely advantageous position with their quarterback depth. Dak Prescott remains the cornerstone, but the talents of Cooper Rush and Trey Lance provide a blend of experience and potential that bodes well for the team’s future. As the curtain falls on the preseason, all eyes will be on how these narratives unfold, setting the stage for what promises to be an intriguing NFL season for the Cowboys.