Trey Lance opens up about 'fresh start' after being traded to Cowboys

Trey Lance is viewing his recent trade as a new opportunity. Before the start of the season, the Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to land the former 49ers quarterback. Although he’s still early in his professional career, Lance considers this a “fresh start.”

Lance is only in his third season in the league and played in just eight games during his two seasons in San Francisco. Dallas wanted to add some depth to its QB room and it sounds like things are working well for both parties.

“It’s been good for me to get a new look and a fresh start. It’s a breath of fresh air here,” Lance said, per the Cowboys’ team website.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy also seems pleased to have Lance around the facilities. It sounds like the former first-round selection is picking up on thing pretty quickly.

“He’s doing well,” McCarthy said. “I’m glad he’s here, that’s for sure. He’s a great addition. He does everything. He’s part of the quarterback school, he’s putting in the extra hours. He’s doing everything he’s supposed to be doing.”

Lance also said that he’s getting adjusted to the way Dallas runs its offense. While maybe the differences aren’t stark, there are some tweaks between schemes.

“It’s different, for sure,” he said. “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.”

Through his first two years in the league, Lance has started in just four games, owning a 2-2 record. He’s completed 56-of-102 passes for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

Trey Lance returns to San Francisco in Week 5

It won’t be a major NFL storyline because Lance isn’t a starting quarterback, but he will return to San Francisco in Week 5. The Cowboys travel to the Bay Area to play the 49ers on Sunday Night Football on Oct. 8.

San Francisco selected Lance No. 3 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. After making the trade, Niners GM John Lynch commented on the move.

“We took a shot and it didn’t work out. We own that, we take accountability for it,”Lynch said in August. “His story is still very much unwritten. I’m excited for Trey. Dallas stepped up and really wanted him.”