It’s time for Dallas to start this player

It’s definitely time to do it, and there are no more excuses left as to why it shouldn’t be done.

It’s time for the Dallas Cowboys to start Trey Lance at quarterback.

With two games left in the season, the Cowboys have absolutely nothing to play for. They can’t make the playoffs.

They can’t finish anywhere but third in the NFC East.

At worst, they won’t improve their draft position until April.

At best, they will find out what they have at the back-up quarterback position. Either they keep Cooper Rush, keep Lance, or dump both and sign Dak Prescott’s heir apparent.

A known quantity

Dallas knows what they have in Rush. He is a solid backup.

But he is most successful when throwing quick passes or check-downs. Although in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay, the Rush channeled their inner Clint Longley quite nicely.

And there’s your 1970s Cowboys Lore reference for the year.

When Prescott goes out of the game, the Cowboys usually have to change their offensive philosophy.

What Rush mostly isn’t is a quarterback who can take over the game and will his team to a title. Nor does Prescott appear to be.

There is no need to continue starting Rush now.

So why not finally find out what the Cowboys have in Lance during the regular season?

High price Clipboard Holder

The Cowboys traded a 2023 fourth-round pick to the 49ers to get Lance.

It appears he was an expensive insurance policy and a bargaining chip in the Prescott contract negotiations.

The move backfired. Jerry Jones caved and gave Prescott everything he wanted, overpaying Prescott and also giving him a no-trade clause.

Meanwhile, Lance has been hanging out on the sidelines, earning $5 million this year to hold a clipboard. He has seen action in two games, both this year.

His career stats in Dallas are a whopping 4-for-6 for 21 yards and an interception.

While the Rush had a pretty strong performance Sunday night, the Cowboys have to look ahead to 2025 and beyond.

Here are the three options:

Keep Cooper Rush

Again, we know what we’re getting with Rush.

As the starting quarterback for the Cowboys, Rush is now 9-4 (.692). Prescott is hitting .623 with a 76-46 record.

Both Rush and Prescott are 31 years old.

Certainly not old, but getting up there in age.

While Prescott is signed through the end of the 2028 season, Rush will be an unrestricted free agent after this year ends. So will Lance.

Let’s say Dallas stays with Rush.

Yes, they have a competent back-up if Prescott goes down again. And Prescott is coming off his third injury-shortened season in the last five years.

Rush is the nice, safe insurance.

Assuming Dallas can afford to keep him.

It will be interesting to see what kind of market Rush can command. It seems unlikely the Cowboys can keep him for the less than $3 million they paid him this season.

Keep Trey Lance

Lance was more expensive in 2024 and definitely had a much lower return on investment than Dallas got from Rush.

However, the market for Lance will likely be close to non-existent. He could be signed for much less than what the Rush made this season.

And he’s only 24.

That makes Dallas find out exactly what they have in Lance. The only way they can find out is if Lance sees playing time in a game that actually matters.

If Lance remains sidelined for the next two weeks, it’s safe to assume they won’t pursue him in free agency this spring.

Let both go

This may actually make the most economic sense. Especially given Stephen Jones’ recent comments that the budget is tight next year.

By letting both men leave for other teams, Dallas would be, and forgive me for putting it this way, going all in on Prescott.

They would almost certainly have to draft a quarterback in 2025 with an eye toward grooming him to be Prescott’s replacement in 2029. If not sooner.

Remember, Prescott was drafted in 2016 to ride the bench behind Romo. Do you remember how it went?

That strategy has worked well up in Green Bay, where the understudy has waited in the shadows for two or three years before taking over.

Given all the variables in play, this might just be the way to go.

But only if they’re sure Lance isn’t already that player.

Therefore, Lance has to start the last two games of this season.