Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy remains confident in Trey Lance despite a rough game where he threw five interceptions. Lance played the entire preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, where the Cowboys lost 26-19. His five interceptions made him just the second quarterback in the last 30 preseasons to reach that mark in a single game, as noted by Ed Werder.
This performance was a setback, especially after Lance’s strong showing with a touchdown and no interceptions in the previous week’s 27-12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. However, McCarthy continues to back Lance, emphasizing his progress. According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, McCarthy stated, “He continually gets better every time you give him a chance. I think that says a lot about him. He’s just a young guy that needs to play. I think he’ll play in this league for a long time.”
After the game, Lance, who hadn’t played in the 2023 season following his trade from the San Francisco 49ers, acknowledged his struggles but maintained that his confidence remains intact. “Ups and downs for sure,” Lance said. “I turned the ball over too many times. … My confidence isn’t going anywhere. This sucks. This is one I’m not going to forget about any time soon, but it’s part of it. You just got to flush it and turn the page.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also defended the trade for Lance, expressing no regrets over giving up a fourth-round pick to acquire him. Despite a mistake-filled preseason, Lance showed potential, becoming the first player since 2017 to pass for 500 yards and rush for 150 yards in a single preseason. He also had a standout 46-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, highlighting his athleticism. However, Lance will likely start the season as the third quarterback behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush.