Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has singled out Trey Lance for praise ahead of a battle for the backup quarterback job in Texas.
The Cowboys moved to sign Lance prior to the start of last season after the San Francisco 49ers relegated their former number three overall draft pick to their third-string quarterback.
The Niners instigated a blockbuster trade to land Lance in the 2021 draft, handing Miami their first-round picks in 2021, 2022 and 2023, plus a 2022 third-rounder in order to move up to the third spot and get their man.
Lance, who made just 17 starts in his college career, backed up Jimmy Garoppolo in his first NFL season and made two starts before being handed the starter job in 2022. He suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2, which marked the end of his playing time in San Francisco.
Lance didn’t see a single snap in Dallas in 2023 as he sat behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush in the pecking order, but Jones now believes the 23-year-old is ready to compete for the backup role.
“The arrow’s really up,” Jones told reporters. “He’s exceeded expectations as a person, as a worker, as a character. He’s got unique skills. He’s very much what we had planned on, hoped.
“When we gave the pick, we knew we would be paying the bonus right now. That was a part of the same decision. That’s been reinforced by what he’s been with the team and the person he is, potentially the player.
Jones eluded to Lance’s lack of playing time but insisted the former North Dakota State star is turning heads in practice.
“We don’t know any more on the field, from the experience in games, we don’t know any more than what we knew when we brought him on, and that is his college and his time in San Francisco.
“What we do know, though, is what he’s done in practice. We don’t know about his game experience, we don’t know his competitive experience, but we do know about his practice experience, and the things he’s done there, it’s been all plus.”
Dallas are expected to agree a new long-term extension with Prescott this offseason, while Rush and Lance are both in the final years of their current deals with the team.
Live on DAZN PPV: Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou on March 8. Click here for details and how to purchase .