Cowboys Make Surprising QB Decision for Week 1 Game

The Dallas Cowboys are set to open Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon. The Cowboys had an interesting summer as star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb held out for a new contract, while fans also got an extended look at young QB Trey Lance in the preseason.

Lance started the preseason well with solid outings against the Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders. But the former first-round pick imploded in the final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, throwing five interceptions.

It certainly wasn’t the performance that fans nor the Cowboys coaching staff were hoping to see from Lance as they wanted him to win the QB2 job. However, that likely won’t be the case with the regular season on the horizon. 

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Monday that Cooper Rush will be Dak Prescott’s backup, while Lance will stay as the team’s QB3. 

Rush didn’t play in the preseason as Dallas wanted to get a closer look at Lance to see what he would do with extended reps. The young signal-caller still has room for improvement, but for a team like the Cowboys, they can ill-afford to take a chance on naming Lance QB2, so they go with a more proven backup in Rush.

The 30-year-old Rush has been a mainstay in Dallas for several years after the team signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan in May 2017. Last season, Rush appeared in seven games, completing 75 percent of his passes for 144 yards, and an interception.

The Cowboys hope Rush won’t have to start in any games this season, as this is a huge year for Prescott. However, if Prescott were to miss time due to injury, Rush has started in six games over his career.

With the Cowboys not picking up Lance’s fifth-year option this offseason, it will be interesting to see what they do with him after the 2024 season ends.

More Cowboys news and analysis: