Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reacts to QB Trey Lance's five-interception game

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance played the entire game in their preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. For Lance, it was a day of ups with many downs.

In the Cowboys' 26-19 loss, the former top-five pick went 33-of-49 for 323 yards with one passing touchdown and five interceptions. While Lance was able to pick up 90 yards rushing — including a 46-yard touchdown run — no quarterback rushing abilities can make up for throwing five picks. 

"Ups and downs for sure. I turned the ball over too many times," Lance said, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. "My confidence isn't going anywhere. This sucks. This is one I'm not going to forget about any time soon, but it's part of it. You just got to flush it and turn the page."

Two of Lance's interceptions went to Chargers safety Tony Jefferson and one was returned for a touchdown by Tre'Mon Morris-Brash. Matt Hankins and Robert Kennedy also picked off Lance. 

Despite his struggles, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave Lance a vote of confidence after the game. 

“I saw some good, and I saw some things you’d like to have back,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, per Pro Football Talk. “I hate that those five interceptions are going to be a stat on a game that I couldn’t have asked for more reps and a better situation to watch him play. He needed that because the one thing he’s missing more than anything is the lack of reps much less NFL reps. Certainly, we’re planning on him being on our roster for sure.”

Jones claimed he had seen improvement from Lance over the last six weeks and even called him "impressive." Jones found Lance's playing time this preseason (albeit choppy at best) valuable. 

"I saw some things out there that you can win with," Jones said.

Anyone who tuned into the Cowboys vs. Chargers preseason game on Saturday saw some things the Cowboys can lose with, too, such as five Trey Lance interceptions. Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the Cowboys last August for a fourth-round pick. 

Lance was expected to be a franchise quarterback, but now he's barely holding on to third-string duties in Dallas behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. Times change quickly in the NFL and Lance's time in the league could be short if he doesn't drastically improve.