Next in waiting? Why Cowboys’ Trey Lance isn’t taking over as QB1 for injured Dak Prescott

FRISCO, Texas — Trey Lance said he’s got no regrets.

You can understand if the Cowboys quarterback did given where his career stands now, but it’s reasonable to believe he’s in a good place.

He will move into the No. 2 spot behind Cooper Rush when the Cowboys host the Eagles on Sunday.

The hamstring injury to Dak Prescott that will take him out multiple weeks is the reason for Lance’s promotion.

To see Lance get moved up is part of the journey of a young quarterback who was the third overall pick by the 49ers, lost his starting gig, was traded for a fourth-round pick and continues to ply his trade.

“No. Not at all,” Lance said of regrets. “I can control what I can control. I was very blessed to be drafted when I was, had an unfortunate injury. I believe everything works out like it’s supposed to. I’m happy to be here and don’t have any regrets or anything like that.”

Lance isn’t ready to become the starter and it’s mainly because of the way quarterbacks are handled in the NFL these days.

Rushed.

From 2014 to 2023, seven first-round quarterbacks were benched within their first two seasons on the job.

One of those seven, Bryce Young in Carolina, was benched, then got his job back.

The expectations are high for young quarterbacks, but if you ask an expert on the position, the more attempts you have in college and the ability to sit and watch the better chance you’ll have to succeed.

“I think it’s very hard,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “I’ll tell ya, the longer I do this, I do think there’s a lot of merit [in] the number of attempts they play that they have in college. The 1,300 passing attempts, I think there’s a tremendous amount of value in that,and if you look at the guys that don’t have that opportunity, the opportunity to sit, because I’ve seen guys that sit and really have benefited from it.”

Lance attempted just 318 passes in three seasons at North Dakota State before the 49ers saw his potential to draft him.

In contrast, Prescott threw 1,169 passes in college before the Cowboys selected him in the fourth round.

So there is something to what McCarthy is talking about.

Young attempted 949 passes at Alabama before becoming No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s had struggles. It could be tied to a different play caller his first two seasons in the NFL.

C.J. Stroud, the second pick last year, who played at Ohio State, attempted 830 college passes. Stroud was The Associated Press’ Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned a Pro Bowl berth.

So does that mean he’s an anomaly?

Will Levis, a 2023 second-round pick by the Titans, attempted 738 passes between Penn State and Kentucky. He’s 4-10 as a starter in the NFL.

Richardson, the No. 4 overall selection attempted 393 passes at Florida.

From the 2024 draft, Drake Maye, selected No. 3 by the Patriots, attempted 952 passes at North Carolina. He started his rookie season as the backup.

Maybe that’s the way to do it.

“I think situation is everything,” Lance said. “It really depends on that, where you’re at, what coach you’re playing for, who you playing with. I think it has a lot to do with it.”

Lance still hasn’t gotten enough pass attempts. Counting his college career, preseason games and regular season games, Lance has attempted 623 passes.

He’s only 24 years old.

Lance suffered an injury his second year in the league, handled the pressures of being a high pick, and then Brock Purdy emerged and Lance eventually was traded to the Cowboys for a fourth-round pick. His development has gone slowly, from working on footwork and timing to just getting comfortable with the West Coast offense.

When you trade a fourth-round pick for a backup quarterback, there’s some expectation that if the starter goes down, the man you acquired steps up.

It hasn’t occurred with Lance, who enters free agency next spring.

“I’m very, very fond of him,” McCarthy said. “I love his approach. He’s just young and needs an opportunity to play. But you know, it’s in-season. We are competing to win games and Cooper Rush is up next.”