Mike McCarthy addresses concerns over Trey Lance's accuracy

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy addressed concerns over Trey Lance‘s accuracy after the team’s loss in their first preseason game. The former first-round draft pick failed to lead the Cowboys on a touchdown drive despite playing the most offensive snaps of any player on Sunday against the Rams. His performance was a bit of a surprise for fans after McCarthy sang his praises during the offseason program, leading some to believe he may battle for the second-string role.

“These are things we need to work on… Trying to get as much as I can with him,” McCarthy said post-game. “You want to see him running the offense at a high level. The footwork and some of the things we’re asking him to do conceptually are new.

“We just need work. We just need as much time as we can. I know I say that every time I talk about him, but he’s making good progress. He’s definitely wired the right way. He’s a great athlete. Just a lot of work to do.”

Lance came into the game after second-string returning quarterback Cooper Rush played the first series. Rush went 2-for-3 for 44 before checking out to the sideline, letting his younger counterpart work with the Cowboys offense.

With the team fielding primarily second and third-string players, Lance went 25-for-41 with 188 passing yards and 44 rushing yards. Though he didn’t turn the ball over like Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett did four times, the former 49ers QB didn’t find the endzone and he took three sacks for a loss of 16 yards. One of his sacks came on a fourth-down conversion attempt.

Lance’s performance was a bit disappointing, but not much of a concern for Dallas. The team has Dak Prescott ready to start the season and Rush is once again prepared to step up in case of an emergency.

Lance ‘learned a ton’ from game versus Rams

After finally getting some much-needed reps against the Rams, Trey Lance opened up about the experience on Sunday at SoFi.

“I think I learned a ton from it,” Lance said after the game. “We were efficient in and out of the huddle. It was a ton of fun to go out and compete and feel the energy in the huddle with those guys.

“I left some plays out there, for sure. Across the board, from the first quarter to the fourth. We get the ball four extra possessions and we don’t score touchdowns, that’s not a good feeling. It was a ton of fun. I learned a ton from it.”

One of the plays Lance would like to have back was a key fourth down play in the red zone. The fourth-year QB had Jalen Moreno-Cropper open in the endzone but he sailed the pass just outside of his reach.

“Just make the throw,” Lance said of what he’d do differently. “I think it’s just kind of a feel. You feel it as the game progresses and I thought good decisions, bad decisions, it’s things I gotta see on tape.”