Inside The Star
It’s absolutely time to do it and there are no more excuses left as to why it shouldn’t be done.
It’s time for the Dallas Cowboys to start Trey Lance at quarterback.
With two games remaining in the season, the Cowboys have absolutely nothing to play for. They cannot make the playoffs.
They can’t finish anywhere other than third in the NFC East.
At worst, they’ll only improve their drafting position in April.
At best, they’ll figure out what they have at the back-up quarterback position. Either they keep Cooper Rush, keep Lance, or toss both and draft Dak Prescott’s heir apparent.
Dallas knows what they have in Rush. He’s a solid backup.
But he is most successful when throwing quick passes or check downs. Although in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay, Rush was channeling his inner Clint Longley quite nicely.
And there’s your 1970s Cowboys Lore reference for the year.
When Prescott goes out of the game, the Cowboys usually have to change their offensive philosophy.
What Rush isn’t most of the time is a quarterback that can take over the game and will his team to a title. Not that Prescott appears to be that either.
There’s no reason to keep starting Rush now.
So why not finally find out what the Cowboys have in Lance in regular season play?
The Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick in 2023 to the 49ers to get Lance.
It seems he was an expensive insurance policy and bargaining chip in the Prescott contract negotiations.
The move backfired. Jerry Jones caved and gave Prescott everything he wanted, overpaying Prescott and giving him a no-trade clause too.
Meanwhile, Lance has hung out on the sidelines, making $5 million this year for holding a clipboard. He’s seen action in two games, both this year.
His career stats in Dallas are a whopping 4-for-6 for 21 yards and an interception.
While Rush had a pretty strong performance on Sunday night, the Cowboys need to be looking ahead to 2025 and beyond.
Here’s the three options:
Again, we know what we’re getting with Rush.
As a starting quarterback for the Cowboys, Rush is now 9-4 (.692). Prescott sits at .623 with a 76-46 record.
Both Rush and Prescott are 31 years old.
Certainly not ancient, but getting up there in age.
While Prescott is signed through the end of the 2028 season, Rush will be an unrestricted free agent after this year ends. So will Lance.
Let’s say Dallas stays with Rush.
Yes, they have a competent back-up in case Prescott goes down again. And Prescott will be coming off his third injury-shortened season in the last five years.
Rush is the nice, safe insurance policy.
Assuming Dallas can afford to keep him.
It will be interesting to see what kind of market Rush can command. It seems unlikely the Cowboys can retain him for the less than $3 million they paid him this season....
