Could Trey Lance start for Dallas Cowboys in Week 18? Here's what we know about odd quarterback situation
The Dallas Cowboys have one more game on their schedule and given Cooper Rush's struggles against the Philadelphia Eagles, many are wondering if a change is imminent at quarterback. It'll be Week 18 and with nothing to fight for, it might happen but actions speak louder than words, they say. So I thought it would be a […]
The Dallas Cowboys have one more game on their schedule and given Cooper Rush's struggles against the Philadelphia Eagles, many are wondering if a change is imminent at quarterback.
It'll be Week 18 and with nothing to fight for, it might happen but actions speak louder than words, they say.
So I thought it would be a good idea to attack the question that will inevitably come up among Cowboys fans this week. Will Trey Lance get a chance to start on the final game of the season? Here's what we know so far.
Mike McCarthy didn't commit to either quarterback for Week 18 postgame
Despite riding with Cooper Rush as his starter since Dak Prescott's season-ending injury back in Week 9, the Cowboys head coach didn't commit to either quarterback for Week 18.
"I don't (know)," McCarthy told reporters when asked about the quarterback spot following the Cowboys' loss to the Eagles. "I'm not there yet."
McCarthy did admit to thinking about playing Lance the series before the final drive during the team's blowout loss to the Eagles, in which the young quarterback got to attempt one pass only.
Actions versus words: What do the Cowboys think of Lance?
Despite Lance getting playing time in Week 17, if we can even call it that, it only reinforced how odd the Cowboys' perspective of Lance is. Earlier in the fourth quarter, the Eagles had already benched a good chunk of their starters and Dallas still refused to sit Cooper Rush in favor of the young QB.
Instead, the Cowboys waited until there were only 2:24 remaining in the fourth quarter. The decision fit with what Dallas has done ever since getting Lance: At no point since arriving to Dallas has Lance appeared to have the leg-up on Rush to back up Prescott. Other than preseason reps, they've shown little to no signs of wanting to see what he's got in live action.
Throughout the season, when asked about giving Lance a chance, McCarthy's response has mostly focused around how they were going into the game with a winning mindset, implying all along they thought they had a better chance with Rush.
Now, I'm not saying they're wrong in how they're doing things because I don't get to watch Lance at practice every day. They do. And the Cowboys did go on a 4-1 run with Rush at the wheel. But their actions do tell you everything you need to know about their opinion on Lance.
Could things change in Week 18?
At this point, my logic says, why not? Just let Lance play.
However, it's not hard to understand Mike McCarthy is always talking about turnover differential. Rush gave up two picks on Sunday but the Cowboys gave up four turnovers during their 4-1 run leading into Week 17.
There's a more than decent chance the head coach believes starting Lance would mean a higher risk of consistently turning it over, something the youngster has struggled with in his career.
McCarthy is still coaching for his job so I still believe he'll do whatever he thinks gives him the best chance of beating the Washington Commanders. Every step of the way, he's shown us he believes that's Cooper Rush.
