The NFL preseason serves as a critical period for teams to assess key position battles, and the Dallas Cowboys are no exception. This year, the focus is on the battle for the backup quarterback position behind Dak Prescott. The contenders for this role are Cooper Rush and Trey Lance, each bringing their unique strengths to the table.
Cooper Rush: Proven Reliability
Cooper Rush, a 30-year-old undrafted talent from Central Michigan, has been a steady presence for the Cowboys since joining the NFL in 2017. While often overshadowed by bigger names, Rush has demonstrated his worth during critical moments. Dallas emerged victorious in five of Rush's six starts when he stepped in for an injured Prescott during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. This track record of reliability has not gone unnoticed.
Despite limited preseason action this year, where he completed 3 of 6 passes for 50 yards, Cowboys' head coach Mike McCarthy expressed high praise for Rush. "Cooper is the same man every single day. He is super consistent. He is on top of his game. I think if you look at his snaps that he has had this year, definitely quality over quantity. That's by design with what we've got going on with Dak and Trey. This is clearly, in my time with him, his best camp. His decision-making has been on point. I think his footwork and some of the things he's done have been impressive," McCarthy said.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones echoed McCarthy's sentiments, noting, "Cooper Rush is someone that I am real impressed with out here, too. He's had a great camp."
Trey Lance: A Developing Talent
On the other side of the quarterback battle is Trey Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Acquired by the Cowboys from the San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round pick last year, Lance brings youth and potential to the lineup. At just 24 years old, he is seen as a developing talent with a high ceiling.
Lance made a notable impression during the preseason, throwing his first touchdown in Dallas' victory over the Raiders. Jones highlighted Lance's progress, stating, "I saw obvious improvement. That's promising because he does have a lot of improvement to have, but he's got all the tools. He's got the mettle. You saw that mettle clicking in and adjustments that he hadn’t made, let's say as early as the week before. That's pretty promising the way he played out there Saturday."
However, the challenge lies in finding enough opportunities for Lance to continue his development. "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.
Jones also emphasized the importance of depth at the quarterback position. "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. Do I need to see any more from Trey Lance? The answer is yes, but he's going to be on the 53."
Final Preseason Showdown
The Cowboys' final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers will be a critical juncture for both Rush and Lance. McCarthy's assertion, "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," encapsulates the team’s approach.
For now, it remains to be seen who will ultimately secure the backup role behind Prescott. What is clear, however, is that both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance have shown enough promise to give Dallas a robust quarterback room. As the Cowboys gear up for the regular season, the performances and decisions made during this crucial preseason period will likely have lasting impacts.