Trey Lance’s confidence? Dallas Cowboys QB says it ‘isn’t going anywhere’
ARLINGTON — No, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance said, he did not feel enthused about his five-interception performance during Saturday’s 26-19 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
But no, Lance added, he also isn’t entirely discouraged after the preseason finale.
“My confidence isn’t going anywhere,” Lance said. “This sucks. This is one I’m not going to feel better about anytime soon. But it’s part of it. It’s just going to force you to turn the page and be able to do that in 12 hours, and I’ll be all good tomorrow.”
The 24-year-old Lance started and played the entire game behind center for the Cowboys on Saturday to cap a busy preseason. With starter Dak Prescott and proven backup Cooper Rush ahead of him on the depth chart, Lance played quarterback for all but three of Dallas’ drives during their exhibition slate.
Saturday’s showing at AT&T Stadium brought some of his greatest highlights, including an 11-yard touchdown pass and a 46-yard run for a score. It also brought those five interceptions, the most of any NFL quarterback in a single game this preseason.
In total, Lance completed 33 of 49 passes for 323 yards against the Chargers. He also ran 11 times for a game-high 90 yards.
Lance’s spot on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster is secure, according to owner Jerry Jones, but the former No. 3 overall pick still faced pressure to shine against the Chargers. With Prescott and Rush on the team, Saturday might represent Lance’s last game action for close to 12 months.
And he said afterward he experienced “ups and downs, for sure.”
“I turned the ball over too many times,” Lance said.
Still, Lance reiterated postgame that his belief in himself would not waver. And coach Mike McCarthy said that Lance pushed through his mistakes to make strong plays throughout Saturday’s contest.
“He just kept playing. Just go through the game — he had the huge run for a touchdown and just kept battling back,” McCarthy said. “That’s the way you take the ball in the preseason.”
McCarthy also felt that the 93 snaps his offense played could benefit Lance.
“That’s invaluable,” McCarthy said. “That’s what all the young guys need, and that’s what Trey Lance needs.”
Lance is entering his fourth NFL season with just four regular-season starts on his resume and no clear assurances that he’ll ever become the franchise quarterback the 49ers drafted him to be in 2021.
After Saturday’s game, Lance stood in the middle of about a dozen media members and fielded a question that carries significant weight: Does he think his play this preseason proved he belongs in the NFL?
“That’s for you guys to talk about and decide,” Lance said.
In other words, after throwing 113 passes over three exhibitions games, the ball is out of Lance’s hands.
