The Dallas Cowboys 2024 season has been a total mess from the get go. It may effectively be put out of its misery on Sunday, and possibly before Dallas even takes the field. Part of Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys could be officially eliminated from the playoffs if Washington can beat Philadelphia earlier in the day. If so, then the direction of who should see the field in the final three weeks should change.
And that could impact whether or not Trey Lance sees the field on Sunday night.
The offseason was a maddening experience for the fanbase, as the club failed to not only avoid signing any impact free agents from the outside, but also failed to bring back many of their own. With contract extensions looming over their biggest stars in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, the coaching staff were all on lame duck status.
All in all, it forced several fans to be lose interest in the brand. One thing that united fans, though, especially under the looming 2025 of Prescott (at the time) was whether or not Lance had what it took to be the next franchise quarterback. Acquired towards the end of the 2023 offseason, Lance didn’t play that year, so no one really knew what to expect from the former No. 3 overall pick the Cowboys traded a 2024 fourth-round pick for.
As head coach Mike McCarthy avoids playing his stars in the preseason, Lance got plenty of snaps in the exhibitions and acquitted himself relatively well until the final performance when he bombed. He really hasn’t been seen since, which in a lost season where Prescott has been out with injury has frustrated fans even more.
Nothing crystalized this animosity more than in Week 11, when in a blowout loss to the Houston Texans where Cooper Rush struggled mightily, McCarthy refused to let Lance get snaps.
Now, with elimination right around the corner, the subject returns. In the last month or so, owner Jerry Jones has hinted that McCarthy might not be five-and-done as the head coach. Don’t believe it.
McCarthy and his staff are likely goners and as such, have no vested interest in playing guys so the front office and the next coaching staff has a better understanding of what they may have.
Lance is a free agent, as is current starter Cooper Rush, in 2025. Rush’s ceiling is obvious; the offense is ridiculously dumbed down due to his arm talent limitations and lack of athleticism. Lance offers upside in that regard, with nowhere near the polish or experience Rush brings to the table.
If the season is officially over before they take the field, fans hope Lance is given a shot to show what he can do.