When the Dallas Cowboys open the 2024 preseason Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, the focus of the game will be about experimentation and development.
Frontline stars and proven veterans will not play against the Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., or at all during the preseason’s remaining two games at Las Vegas Raiders and at home at AT&T Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Among the things to watch are:
▪ The Cowboys new-look run defense under coordinator Mike Zimmer and the development of nose tackle Mazi Smith.
▪ Rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton, the first round pick slated to step in for departed Pro Bowler Tyron Smith.
▪ Rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who will get more playing time with the seaon-ending injury to Sam Williams
▪ Rookie cornerback Caeson Carson, who has been a star of camp, and rookie center Cooper Beebe, who is vying to be the opening day starter.
▪ The continued development of receivers Jalen Brooks, Jalen Tolbert and Tyron Billy Johnson and a deep group of tight ends, including John Stephens Jr., Noah Fant and Brevyn Spann-Ford that make the position one of the toughest cuts on the team.
But the player who will get the most national scrutiny and attention will be quarterback Trey Lance, a former No. 3 overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 draft.
The Cowboys acquired Lance for a fourth-round draft pick last August in hopes of seeing if he could develop into a possible backup quarterback.
Because the 49ers traded three first-round picks to acquire him, there remains a lot of intrigue about his potential.
There also remains a lot of unknown.
Lance has simply not played a lot of football. Ever.
He started just one year of quarterback in high school, played just 19 games in college at North Dakota State and had four starts in San Francisco, including two as a rookie and two in 2022 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
He was traded following the preseason in 2023 after being labeled a draft bust and spent the year as the Cowboys third quarterback.
Dating back to his time in college, Lance has thrown a total of 420 passes since 2018.
Conventional wisdom says Lance has no chance of unseating Cooper Rush as the backup behind starter Dak Prescott in 2024. Rush is a proven commodity. He is 5-1 as a starter in place of an injured Prescott in his career.
There is literally noting Lance can do in the preseason against backups with limited game plans and schemes to combat that.
But all three quarterbacks are free agents after the upcoming season.
And while the Cowboys are working hard to sign Prescott to an extension, Lance has a chance to show that he is worthy of returning as a backup in the future.
The order of business is getting him snaps and seeing him play.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has dedicated training camp and the preseason finding out about Lance.
It starts in earnest against the Rams on Sunday.
Lance is doing his best to not put too much on it..
But he knows this is the beginning of a process that could dictate his NFL future.
“I’m going into this game the same as I’ve gone into every other game my whole entire life — college, high school,” he said. “I don’t think that I’ll put too much extra in it. I’m not gonna play any harder than I have in the past, or not harder.
“Big game for me. Big game for us so I’m excited to go out there and play well.”
McCarthy is certainly as excited and intrigue to see Lance play as any young quarterback he has been around.
He likes his work ethic. says he has great command of the offense. He is athletic and great on the move.
His lack of experience is most prevalent in the drop back passing game.
He just doesn’t have enough time on task there.
McCarthy is going to get him reps in all areas starting Sunday against the Rams.
“I’m really excited to go compete with him,” McCarthy said. “He puts in all the extra time. I just think, like all of our guys, I get to see firsthand all the work that they put into it. Trey Lance is a great, great example of that. He does all the little things, all the old school approaches. He doesn’t cut any corners. He got great work ethic and I feel like he really has been understanding of the offense. He’s in a room with two guys that love and respect him in Cooper and Dak. And they pour into him. You want to see one of your guys have success because he’s definitely put the work in.”
Lance also knows what’s at stake.
He chooses look ahead, than behind.
“I think everything works out how it’s supposed to,” Lance said. “That’s the truth. I believe I’m where I’m supposed to be. I live in the present, one day at a time, taking it one meeting and one marker at a time; and controlling what I can control.”