Will Trey Lance Get an Opportunity in Dallas Cowboys’ Season Finale?

As the 2024 NFL season winds down, one of the most intriguing subplots surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is the future and role of Trey Lance, the young quarterback who was traded to the Cowboys from the San Francisco 49ers in a surprising move prior to the 2024 season. Despite his potential and pedigree as the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance has yet to see substantial action with his new team. With the Cowboys already having secured a playoff berth, there has been increasing speculation around whether Lance will be given an opportunity to start or even play in the season finale.

In order to understand the situation, we need to examine several factors: the Cowboys’ current quarterback situation, Trey Lance’s development, the team’s playoff outlook, and head coach Mike McCarthy’s approach to late-season games.

1. Trey Lance’s Journey to Dallas

Trey Lance’s rise to prominence was meteoric when he was drafted by the 49ers as the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. His combination of athleticism, arm strength, and leadership traits made him an appealing prospect. However, his time in San Francisco has been marred by inconsistency, injuries, and the emergence of Jimmy Garoppolo and later Brock Purdy as key quarterbacks in the 49ers’ system. Despite the 49ers trading up to select Lance, he saw limited playing time, and his development was stunted by a significant injury early in his second season.

By the 2023 season, the 49ers had firmly moved on from Lance, with Purdy assuming the starting role. Recognizing that Lance still possessed significant upside, the Cowboys made a trade to bring him to Dallas, giving him an opportunity to prove himself in a new system. While Lance’s arrival generated significant media attention, the Cowboys already had a solid starting quarterback in Dak Prescott, and his backup, Cooper Rush, had proven himself capable in relief. This context left Lance in a backup role and relegated him to a practice squad position for much of the 2024 season.

2. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ QB Situation

Dak Prescott has been the unquestioned leader of the Cowboys since taking over as the starter in 2016. He’s been consistently productive, though not without his ups and downs, and his leadership has been a vital component of the Cowboys’ success. Prescott has the trust of head coach Mike McCarthy and the team, and his performance has kept the Cowboys in contention for the NFC East title and a playoff berth.

However, Prescott’s inconsistencies, particularly in critical moments of the season, have led some to question whether the Cowboys could explore other options in the future. Prescott has had stretches of impressive play, but there have been moments when his decision-making and interceptions have drawn criticism.

Behind Prescott, the Cowboys have veteran Cooper Rush, who stepped in admirably as a backup during Prescott’s injuries in past seasons. Rush has shown he can lead the Cowboys to victories, but his ceiling is seen as more limited than Prescott’s. Lance, on the other hand, has the raw talent and athleticism to be a game-changer, though his development is still very much a work in progress.

For now, Prescott remains the starter, but the Cowboys’ management and coaching staff will need to evaluate whether Lance’s potential is worth exploring as they look toward the future. This creates an intriguing situation, as the Cowboys’ season finale may serve as a proving ground for Lance to showcase what he can do, especially if they’re already locked into their playoff positioning.

3. Playoff Implications and Resting Starters

The Cowboys have already clinched a playoff berth, and depending on the outcomes of other games, the season finale may not have much bearing on their playoff positioning. If the Cowboys are locked into a wild card spot or have no realistic chance of securing a higher seed, this could create an opportunity for McCarthy to give players like Trey Lance a chance to gain some experience.

Resting key players is a common strategy for NFL teams that have already secured their playoff positioning. In past seasons, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and others have used their season finales to give backups or developmental players a chance to play. This not only gives younger players valuable game time but also minimizes the risk of injury to key starters heading into the playoffs.

For the Cowboys, there are compelling reasons to rest Prescott in a meaningless game late in the regular season. Prescott is coming off a year with injuries, and the team could benefit from minimizing his exposure to potential injuries in a game that doesn’t affect their playoff fate. The same logic applies to other key players on the team. However, with the postseason looming, it is unlikely that McCarthy would rest every starter—especially given the high expectations for the team in the playoffs.

Thus, if there is an opportunity to rest Prescott, it might make sense to give Trey Lance a shot at starting in the season finale, assuming McCarthy believes that Lance is ready to handle the role. This could offer both Lance and the Cowboys valuable insight into his capabilities under live-game conditions.

4. Lance’s Development and Readiness

Lance’s limited playing time in the NFL makes it difficult to fully assess his readiness to start at this level. The 49ers’ offense, particularly under head coach Kyle Shanahan, is notoriously complex, and Lance struggled to fit into that system during his short tenure. In contrast, the Cowboys’ offense under McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer may present Lance with a different set of challenges, but it is one that is more in line with his strengths.

Lance’s arm strength, mobility, and athleticism have been touted as his best attributes. However, his accuracy and decision-making have been a work in progress. In practices, he has reportedly shown flashes of his potential, but the lack of meaningful in-game experience is a major hurdle.

For McCarthy, the decision to play Lance will ultimately depend on how confident he is in Lance’s ability to execute the game plan. The Cowboys don’t want to risk losing a game that may still carry some meaning for momentum, but the head coach may be willing to take a chance if he feels Lance is ready to take the field.

A season finale could also serve as a perfect opportunity to get Lance meaningful game action without the weight of playoff hopes hanging in the balance. If Lance performs well, it would offer both the player and the Cowboys organization some much-needed confidence heading into the offseason.

5. The Future of Trey Lance with the Cowboys

Lance’s time with the Cowboys will depend heavily on his performance if given an opportunity. While it is unlikely that one game would fully define his future with the team, it could serve as a key decision-making moment for the Cowboys’ front office. If Lance shows promise in a season finale, the Cowboys might be more inclined to continue his development as a potential future starting quarterback or at least a more reliable backup.

Given the uncertainty around Prescott’s long-term future with the Cowboys, the team could benefit from seeing what they have in Lance before fully committing to him as a backup or a potential trade asset. Conversely, if Lance struggles, the Cowboys may decide to cut ties or relegate him to the backup role permanently.