Former 49ers QB Trey Lance ‘excited’ by opportunity in Dallas
Aug 30, 2023, 9:00 AM | Updated: 9:22 am
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
The last week has been a bit of a whirlwind for Trey Lance and his NFL future, but after finding a new home, he’s thrilled to get a second chance at his football dreams.
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback spoke to the Dallas media for the first time since being traded to the Cowboys last Friday. While the 23-year-old prospect would have loved his NFL journey to flourish in The Bay, he admits that playing for America’s Team is enticing to say the least.
“When I heard Cowboys, I had a big smile on my face. I’m very excited to be here,” Trey Lance told reporters Tuesday.
Trey Lance's First Interview as a Dallas Cowboy. pic.twitter.com/slGRlOnYS7
— Ryan G Hensley (@ryanghensley) August 30, 2023
That’s not to say the last few days haven’t been tough for the young man.
After being drafted with the third overall pick in 2021, Lance never seemed to get his footing with the 49ers, experiencing setbacks on the depth chart, and with injuries alike. The final straw was losing the backup job to Sam Darnold, needing to take some time away from his former franchise to assess his options.
In the end, both the player and the front office decided it was best to look for options elsewhere.
“It definitely took some time [to process]. That conversation obviously wasn’t something I wanted to hear, but it was the reality of the situation,” Lance stated. “And nothing but respect and gratitude for everyone there… But yeah, it was tough. But for me, it was about trying to figure out what’s next and what’s going to happen in the future.”
The North Dakota State alum’s future is now set, a part of the Cowboys QB depth chart for the time being. While Lance’s main goal will be to win the starting job in Dallas, for now, he’s content with learning the offense as Dak Prescott’s backup.
Obviously, it’s a similar situation to when the player entered the league two years ago. But that doesn’t mean the two can’t co-exist for this season, hoping to absorb as much knowledge of the game from his Pro Bowl teammate.
“He welcomed me with open arms…And that meant a lot to me,” Lance said about Prescott. “He’s a guy that has obviously played at a really high level for a very long time. Nothing but tons and tons of respect for him as I think he deserves.”
The Cowboys’ brass also feels strongly about their new QB, waiving backup Will Grier on roster cutdown day.
Trey Lance would never say it publicly, but he’s studied the other QBs in this league and thinks he has a shot to prove he’s better than Dak Prescott. More @Undisputed, now on FS1.pic.twitter.com/zCYUmKzT6h
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 30, 2023
So what does the future hold for Trey Lance & the Cowboys? Who knows.
If Prescott and Dallas get off to a roaring start to the 2023 season, it could be a lot of clipboard-holding for Lance over the next few months. But if the first-team offense struggles, we might see the young gunslinger suit up in the sound half of the season.
Regardless, Lance is looking to turn the page on his NFL career, disappointed with how it ended in San Francisco, but expected to fulfill his dreams in Dallas.
“It’s not how I expected it to go, it’s not how a lot of people expected it to go. But, I think everything happens for a reason, I think I’m here for a reason. Regardless of what it is, I wanna find a way to help the team [win],” Trey Lance said.
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