How Dallas Cowboys QB Trey Lance performed in preseason opener

Trey Lance loved just a few brilliant moments and extra irritating ones throughout his Dallas Cowboys debut, however the 24-year-old quarterback can take one clear profit from his efficiency Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams: He now has recreation expertise in coach Mike McCarthy’s offense.

Lance, a 2021 first-round choose of the 49ers, joined Dallas by way of a commerce final August. He arrived too late to take part within the Cowboys’ preseason and spent the common season on the bench behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.

That’s a part of the rationale the eyes of many followers have been mounted on Lance throughout Sunday’s 13-12 loss to the Rams. His outcomes below the highlight have been combined.

He completed 25-for-41 passing for 188 yards (4.6 per try) and no touchdowns or interceptions. He additionally ran six occasions for 44 yards. Lance’s passer score of 72 was far under his mark in both of his two outings with the 49ers final preseason.

After Rush began at quarterback and related with receiver Jalen Brooks on a 43-yard deep ball throughout his solely drive, Lance took over on Dallas’ second possession.

And with Lance behind heart the remainder of the sport, the Cowboys offense lacked the identical explosion it confirmed in a quick stint with Rush on the sphere.

Lance scampered out of the pocket for a 19-yard achieve at one level within the first half and confirmed basic elusiveness within the face of stress. However little else appeared to go his means. Within the first half, the fourth-year professional struggled to seek out open receivers at occasions and missed one throw that would’ve led to a landing.

On a fourth-and-goal on the 1, Cowboys broad receiver Jalen Cropper broke free at the back of the tip zone whereas sprinting from Lance’s proper to his left. Lance lofted a high-arcing move that sailed just a few inches out of Cropper’s attain and fell out of bounds for an incompletion. Alternative missed.

The Cowboys settled right into a sample after that, with Lance sometimes bouncing off of defenders and making performs together with his legs however not often finishing sharp throws downfield.

He did appear to generate a semblance of a rhythm on a Dallas drive halfway by way of the fourth quarter. Lance accomplished 4 straight passes, together with one which transformed a third-and-9 and one other that went for 26 yards. For that huge play, Lance whipped the ball throughout the center, and receiver Kelvin Harmon leapt excessive to tug down a formidable catch.

Regardless of a number of highlights, Lance did not steer the Cowboys into the tip zone throughout his three-and-a-half quarters on the sphere.

This in all probability received’t be his final alternative to show his price this month, although.

As a result of Prescott and Rush are confirmed commodities, Lance will possible proceed to play loads over the ultimate two weeks of the preseason. In that sense, his 41 move makes an attempt Sunday have been merely a primary act in a Cowboys recreation uniform.

He would possibly must fare higher in his subsequent ones with a purpose to resurrect his NFL profession.