As preseason comes to a close, there have been several players fighting for a spot on the Dallas Cowboys’ 53-man roster. In some positions, it’s been a very close race, causing fear for the big position at QB and whether Trey Lance will make the cut.
Jerry Jones Confirms Trey Lance’s Spot on Dallas Cowboys Roster
Trey Lance a Lock to Make Cowboys’ Roster
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys owner, was asked about the depth chart and the tough decisions for cuts that need to be made.
Owners, managers, and coaches of the Cowboys have confirmed that they like making it a competitive market. Having players step up because other talent has been added to their room only makes for a better final selection.
Jones agreed that there would be some tough decisions made at wide receiver, tight end, and secondary. Several names and faces are starting to stand out amongst the young squad during the preseason games. But Jones was also asked about Lance and whether he would need to see more to have him on the 53-man roster.
“Do I need to see any more from Trey Lance? Can we stop there? And the answer is yes,” Jones told reporters on August 21. “But, he’s going to be on the 53.”
Everything that Jones says has to be taken with a grain of salt. However, it is reassuring to see the team wants to see more of him and would keep him on the roster for it.
Trey Lance’s Preseason Performance
Preseason has been a steep learning curve for Lance. He has been actively working on improving himself throughout his time with the Cowboys. Part of that improvement comes from the reps he’s been cranking out.
In college, he only had just over 280 passing attempts in his three years at North Dakota State. This is a drastic difference when compared to Dak Prescott, who had 590 attempts in the 2023 season alone.
Because of this, Lance’s starts in the preseason have been crucial for trying to develop him as a possible backup someday in the NFL.
Against the Los Angeles Rams, Lance struggled in the first few drives, trying to gain his footing in the game. He relied on his legs to get yards and focused on the short pass to move the ball. Although he didn’t score any touchdowns, he moved the Cowboys into field goal range multiple times. All this while having no interceptions and only one sack.
There was huge growth and improvement in Lance against the Las Vegas Raiders. Lance moved the ball more fluidly, having two 10+ play drives, running in the ball for a touchdown, and having no sacks and no interceptions.
All of the extra reps and in-game practice have paid off.
Cowboys Growth Points Against the Chargers
The Cowboys have one more preseason game to play against the Los Angeles Chargers. Lance is likely to get ample time in this game as well to try and fix a few more sore spots.
Coaches and fans are desperate to see Lance make a long-ball connection. Most of his completions have been short gains for the first down. It would be great to see a 20+ yard throw completed for the 24-year-old.
Another hope is for Lance to lean on his running backs for rushing. Against the Rams, Lance had the most rushing yards. When playing the Raiders, he tied for the most again. This game with the Chargers needs to be one where the running backs shine. That room also needs to be sorted out and it’s some of these guys’ final opportunities to do so.
Lastly, if Lance can string together another game with no interceptions, it’ll speak well about his ability to keep the ball out of trouble. Not to mention, if the defense has more interceptions, it’ll be great to see Lance capitalize on those turnovers.
With the final game of preseason rapidly approaching, and his spot all but guaranteed, Lance will be ready to take the field by storm.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
