The Cowboys aren’t concerned with developing a young quarterback.
Despite their 3-7 record and having less than one percent chance of making the playoffs according to ESPN’s probabilities, the Cowboys will continue to start veteran Cooper Rush over project Trey Lance with Dak Prescott out for the season.
Owner Jerry Jones said after Monday’s 34-10 loss to the Texans that the team will start Rush against Washington in Week 12 since he gives the team the best chance to win, per DLLS.
He later downplayed the idea of playing Lance during a radio interview Tuesday.
He added, per CBS: “I think our best chance is to have Rush in here, and the goal is to win the game.”
With the season all but lost and Prescott sidelined following hamstring surgery, now would seemingly be the time for the Cowboys to see what they have in Lance.
Rush is a serviceable backup but is seven seasons into his career and doesn’t seem to have a higher ceiling.
Lance, in theory, has untapped potential that a team headed for a top-10 draft pick should seemingly attempt to unearth down the stretch.
The 49ers drafted Lance with the third pick of the 2021 NFL Draft knowing he needed reps to realize his potential. However, his 2022 season ended early due to injury and Brock Purdy ultimately Wally Pipp’d him.
Dallas took a shot on Lance at the cost of a fourth-rounder in a trade before last season, but he did not throw a single pass while Prescott led the team to the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Lance has appeared in just one game this season, throwing six passes.
Jones noted that the Cowboys thought it was “just too important” to go with Lance in the last two games, losses to the Eagles and Texans, since they needed wins to try to stay afloat in the playoff race.
Jones also disagreed with the notion that perhaps the Cowboys overestimated Lance’s readiness when they acquired him.
“We knew exactly where Trey Lance was when he left San Francisco,” Jones said. “We knew he hadn’t played much football. He has improved dramatically. You got to get out there and you got to play.”
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said the team has a specific package for Lance, while offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer corroborated Jones’ opinion that Lance has improved.
