Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Things have not exactly gone according to plan for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance.

Lance was originally selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the third overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, but the 49ers gave up on him after two years and traded him to the Dallas Cowboys last month.

Now, Lance is backing up Dak Prescott, which is a far cry from what he initially anticipated he would be doing on the professional level.

However, Lance seems to be embracing his time as a second-stringer in Dallas.

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

Lance has also been loving what offensive coordinator Scott Tolzien brings to the table.

“Scotty always has a checklist,” Lance said. “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.”

The North Dakota State product played in eight games and made just four starts in San Francisco, throwing five touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 54.3 percent of his passes.

An ankle injury ended his season after just two games in 2022.

Clearly, Lance still has a lot to prove, and head coach Mike McCarthy appreciates the hard work he has been putting in since being dealt to the club.

“He’s doing well. I’m glad he’s here, that’s for sure,” said McCarthy. “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.”

Of course, whether or not Lance will ever get a chance to show his stuff for the Cowboys remains to be seen, as Prescott is firmly entrenched a the starter for the foreseeable future.

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