QB Trey Lance discusses 'fresh start' with Cowboys

Quarterback Trey Lance is embracing a new beginning with the Dallas Cowboys after he was traded by the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the season. 

"It's different, for sure," Lance said about learning a new offense during a chat with Nick Harris of the Cowboys' website. "It's not [a] game-changing [difference], there are similarities across the league from what I know. It's been good to learn. It's been good for me to get a new look and a fresh start. It's a breath of fresh air here."

Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 of the 2022 campaign. Then he lost his starting job with San Francisco after Brock Purdy became a rookie sensation and guided the club to the NFC Championship Game. The 2021 first-round draft pick later fell to third on the 49ers depth chart beneath Purdy and free-agency signing Sam Darnold before he was traded in late August for a 2024 fourth-round draft choice. 

Lance is now in what Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy referred to as a "quarterback school" while working with quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien.

"Scotty always has a checklist," Lance explained. "He wants to hit on stuff that we've talked about throughout the week that I didn't have time to get reps on. A lot of different throws and a lot of different reps. It's great for me and I'm thankful for him that he's able to do that for me pregame. I get a great workout in and I have his eyes on me the whole time."

Lance is expected to complete a redshirt season while sitting behind both starter Dak Prescott and primary backup Cooper Rush. Prescott signed a four-year contract in March 2021 but could put pen to paper on an extension at any point during or after the season. 

"He's catching on really well," Rush said about Lance. "Just seeing how he asks questions in meetings about the offense and why we do certain things, just seeing his note-taking and all of the work he's put in that way, you can tell he's football-smart and picking it up well."

Lance still has made just four NFL starts and has attempted a total of 102 career regular-season passes, so it's likely some team will eventually give him a chance to compete for a QB1 job. The 23-year-old first must put all that went wrong in San Francisco behind him to reach the expectations many had for him as recently as September of last year.