The Dallas Cowboys are turning to a backup quarterback for what is likely to be multiple games with Dak Prescott out due to a hamstring injury. That quarterback will probably be Cooper Rush, but Trey Lance is still hoping to get his shot.
Lance told reporters on Wednesday that he “absolutely” believes he could effectively run the Dallas offense, and said he would “love” the opportunity if the coaching staff gave it to him.
“I’d love the opportunity to get on the field any way I can, if that’s what Coach thinks is best,” Lance said Wednesday. “I feel like I’m in a real good spot right now.”
Cowboys backup QB Trey Lance: “I’d love the opportunity to get on the field any way I can, if that’s what Coach thinks is best. … I feel like I’m in a real good spot right now.”
Does he feel confident in his ability to run the offense? “Absolutely.”
How high is that confidence…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 6, 2024
Lance has spent the season as the Cowboys’ third-string quarterback behind Rush, and he is unlikely to move ahead of Rush now. If Rush struggles, however, one has to wonder if the former No. 3 overall pick might get a look.
The Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick for Lance prior to the 2023 season, but he has yet to actually see the field for them in a regular season game. He would certainly love the opportunity, even if it is not coming right now.
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The Denver Broncos are solidifying their future with the favorite target of second-year quarterback Bo Nix. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton and the Broncos agreed to a four-year, $92M contract extension Monday, via NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Before the reported extension, the WR had one year left on his deal. Extending Sutton isn't risk-free for the Broncos. The 2018 second-round pick turns 30 on Oct. 10, the point when wideouts can fade. But his close relationship with Nix may outweigh that concern. Nix and Sutton like spending time together. In an April Instagram post sponsored by FedEx, the WR-QB tandem offered Denver rookies care packages. Nix also detailed why he has so much confidence in Sutton in November 2024. "He's just reliable, he's just always there when you need him," the QB said, via ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "He's smart. He's savvy. He makes plays when the ball is in the air. You can trust him. When it's up in the air, it's his or nobody's. It's not going to be a pick." Sutton proved reliable for Nix throughout the 2024 season. The one-time Pro Bowler led the Broncos in targets (135), receptions (81), receiving yards (1,081) and touchdown catches (eight) in 17 regular-season games. Nix, meanwhile, tossed the league's sixth-most TD passes (29 in 17 starts), finishing third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels. The Broncos' receiving corps lacks explosive playmakers. Except for Sutton, no Denver WR finished with more than 503 receiving yards last season. This offseason, the Broncos took Illinois WR Pat Bryant (pick No. 74) in the NFL Draft and signed TE Evan Engram to strengthen their passing attack. Engram made the Pro Bowl for the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2023 season. Those moves may give Nix more options, but expect him to still lean heavily on his top weapon in 2025.
The 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class had its day in Cooperstown on Sunday. This year's class included Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, who were elected by the eligible voters from the Baseball Writer's Association of America, and Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were elected by the Classic Baseball Era Committee. Here are some of the top highlights from Sunday's induction speeches. Dave Parker's son reads poem written by Hall of Fame father Parker's induction into the Hall of Fame was long overdue, and he sadly did not have the opportunity to enjoy the moment of seeing his name in the Hall of Fame as he died June 28. That left his speech in the hands of his son, Dave Parker II, who read a poem written by his dad. Parker spent the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he was an MVP winner, two-time batting champion and World Series champion with the 1979 "We Are Family" team. Dick Allen's wife remembers his kindness Allen was the other veterans committee inductee, and his widow, Willa Allen, spent the majority of her speech remember the kindness of Allen off the field as much as his ability on the field. Allen is going into the Hall of Fame as a Phillie but won the 1972 American League MVP with the Chicago White Sox. He led the league in OPS four times and was the 1964 National League Rookie of the Year. A reminder that Billy Wagner wasn't naturally left-handed Being left-handed is a huge advantage (and money-maker) for pitchers, and Wagner was one of the most dominant left-handed relief pitchers to ever step onto a mound in the big leagues. But he wasn't always left-handed. Wagner was a natural-born right-handed person but taught himself how to throw left-handed after fracturing his right arm twice as a kid. It led to quite a career. Wagner made a name for himself with the Houston Astros but also spent years with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. CC Sabathia takes playful dig at Ichiro Sabathia accomplished a ton in his 19-year big league career. He won 251 games, won the 2007 American League Cy Young Award, was the 2009 ALCS MVP and a World Series champion. He still has apparently not gotten over the one individual award he did not win — the 2001 American League Rookie of the Year Award, which went to fellow 2025 inductee Ichiro. Sabathia made sure to make a playful dig at that. Sabathia was the only American League rookie outside of Ichiro — who also won the American League MVP that year — to get a first-place vote. He received one. The others all went to Ichiro. Ichiro stole the show Ichiro stole 509 bases in his Hall of Fame career, and on Sunday, he added one more steal to his list of accomplishments by absolutely stealing the show at Cooperstown. He delivered two of the best lines of the day, first by calling out the one lone writer who did not vote for him, keeping him from being just the second unanimous Hall of Fame inductee ever (after Mariano Rivera). His best line of the day, however, might have been when he referenced his brief time as a member of the Miami Marlins toward the end of his career. Ichiro played 14 of his 19 seasons with the Seattle Mariners while also spending time with the Marlins and Yankees.
Mason West is a talented prospect of the future for the Chicago Blackhawks, but it appears he may look to leave hockey for big opportunities in football. The Chicago Blackhawks landed Anton Frondell with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but it was perhaps their second first-round pick that drew the most intrigue, as they drafted centre Mason West out of the USHL. That pick was intriguing for many reasons, with the 6-foot-6 centre having potential with his talent and his physicality, but now, the team may be in danger of losing the talented 17-year old. According to a report from The Athletic, the No. 29 overall pick has been drawing interest from several NCAA programs to join their team as a football player. Standing at 6-foot-6, the Minnesota native is a star in both hockey and football, tallying 49 points in 31 games at the high school level while also being a star Quarterback, and after putting up 9 points in 10 USHL games with the Fargo Force, the future is bright for him in both sports. Ultimately, at 17-years of age, the future is very bright whichever way West ends up going, but given that the Blackhawks used a first-round pick on him in this past seasons draft, they're clearly confident that they can not only keep him in hockey, but make a good NHLer out of him moving forward.
The Maple Leafs are in need of a major upgrade in their top-six, and now Jay Rosehill has noted Rangers' Vincent Trocheck as a trade candidate for Brad Treliving. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been busy this off-season, adding some intriguing forwards in Matias Macceli and Dakota Joshua while retaining John Tavares as they look to go one or two steps further in the post-season moving forward. However, despite all of this movement, the belief is still that this team is ready to take a big swing in the coming months on the trade market, with several big name candidates out there that could improve their top-six. Now, former Maple Leaf Jay Rosehill has weighed in, suggesting a very intriguing name that General Manager Brad Treliving could target ahead of the 2026 trade deadline. 'Another guy is Vincent Trocheck. He's 32 years old, so he's got the experience. I just think that you put him in this lineup, he would fit. It's like there's kind of a big missing piece in this forward group, kind of in that middle-six type of deal. And to fill it with a high-end guy like Trocheck, it would just be like, the balance would just be humming.' Over the past three years in New York, Trocheck has tallied 64, 77 and 59 points, and given the two-way game that he plays and the leadership that he brings, the 32-year old would be a massive upgrade in Toronto's top-six, whether he remains at the centre position or moves to the wing. Ultimately, the Maple Leafs have the issue of lacking assets to make a big move, so a player like Trocheck could potentially be in their range, and while they've still got plenty of talent, it's clear that this team needs an upgrade to be a true contender, with Trocheck a fantastic option if he truly is available.
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