Calling for Backup

Today’s 20 Questions series has the writers wondering what will happen with Trey Lance, and will he eventually unseat backup Cooper Rush.

(Editor’s Note: In the upcoming weeks before the start of training camp, the staff of DallasCowboys.com is looking to answer the 20 biggest questions facing the team heading into the 2024 season. Today, the series has the writers wondering what will happen with Trey Lance, and will he eventually unseat backup Cooper Rush.)

7) Trey Lance overtake Cooper Rush for QB2?

Mickey Spagnola: That would be premature to suggest heading into training camp. That’s what we go to camp to find out. Really, all we know about Lance is his name and first round draft status (No. 3 overall in2021). And that’s all the Cowboys know first-hand, too, other than his workouts and mostly scout team reps last year. They will first give him every opportunity during camp practices and in at least two if not all three preseason games to prove he is worth keeping as at least the future backup. Remember, Lance is in the final year of his contract, as are Dak Prescott and Rush. And let’s also remember Coop has far more experience than Lance, who would have to gain enough trust to overtake Rush (5-1 as a starter) this season. Looking forward to seeing what Lance can do once actually playing in games, since he’s appeared in only eight NFL games, starting four, and not since Sept. 18, 2022, all with the Niners over two seasons.

Patrik Walker: Two things are true here: Yes, it’s possible for the former third-overall pick to beat out Cooper Rush in training camp and the preseason. It’s also not going to be anything near easy for him to achieve that goal. Lance shows a lot of promise and is developing very nicely under McCarthy, and a full offseason should pay dividends in July and August, but Rush has never been an easy out and he is not only one of the better backups in the league, but his familiarity with McCarthy, Dak Prescott, the receivers and the entire offense plays largely in his favor. This is a matchup that is probably top-3 in ones to watch in Oxnard, because it’s the youth and upside of Lance versus the experience and proven ability of Rush. Hold onto your butts, folks.

Nick Eatman: This is one of those ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ situations. Sure, Lance is supposed to beat out Cooper Rush for the backup job here in his fourth pro season. But he’s also supposed to be the 49ers starting quarterback and that didn’t happen either. I think I’d be surprised if Lance was actually better than Rush when we’re done with camp and preseason. That doesn’t mean the Cowboys wouldn’t make him the backup because it seems as if they’d want it to play out that way. But Rush has been better in the brief things we’ve seen in the offseason. Rush has a good command of what the Cowboys are trying to do schematically and let’s face it, Rush has been better than Lance (and a lot of quarterbacks) when he’s been asked to play. I think if it’s a fair competition, I can see Rush still being the No. 2 quarterback heading into the season.

Kurt Daniels: It certainly seems like the Cowboys brass wants Lance to overtake Rush in the quarterback pecking order. After all, they’d like to get something back on an investment that cost them a much-needed 2024 fourth-round draft pick. But the Cowboys know what they’ve got in Rush, who is considered one of the better backups in the NFL. Although he’s not going to give you anything flashy, he knows the offense and consistently has gotten the job done. So do you roll the dice on someone with maybe a higher upside? Or stand pat with the old reliable? Unless Lance really jumps off the page this coming August, I would think they stick with what they know.