The Dallas Cowboys suffered their fifth consecutive defeat on Monday, a 34-10 drubbing at the hands of the Houston Texans. With the team’s playoff hopes dwindling and quarterback Dak Prescott sidelined for the year, head coach Mike McCarthy made a surprising admission following the loss: he should have given Trey Lance a shot.
“I think the one thing I should have done at the end that I didn’t do was put Trey in there,” McCarthy said in his postgame press conference. “I could have got him a series. That’s one thing I second-guess myself on.”
Cowboys Stick with Cooper Rush
Cooper Rush, filling in for Prescott, delivered a mixed performance against Houston. He threw for 354 yards on 55 attempts, adding one touchdown and one interception. While it marked an improvement over his lackluster showing in Week 10, Rush struggled to find consistency, particularly in key moments.
Despite the game being out of reach by the fourth quarter, McCarthy opted to keep Rush in, leaving Lance—a player the Cowboys acquired for a fourth-round pick from the 49ers in 2023—on the bench. The 23-year-old former No. 3 overall pick has yet to see meaningful action in a Cowboys uniform.
Jerry Jones Defends QB Plan
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reaffirmed the team’s commitment to Rush as the starter moving forward, stating that the veteran quarterback gives Dallas its best chance to win.
However, at 3-7 and with the NFC playoff picture slipping away, questions loom about the Cowboys’ future under center. Giving Lance an opportunity to showcase his potential could benefit the team in the long run, particularly as they look toward the NFL Draft.
A Missed Opportunity
For McCarthy, the regret over not inserting Lance into the game signals mounting frustration as the Cowboys’ season spirals further. With little left to lose, Dallas must decide whether to continue rolling with Rush or turn to Lance to assess his viability as a future option.
Either way, the pressure is building on a team that now faces tough decisions in the weeks ahead.
