The Las Vegas Raiders faced uncertainty in the battle for the starting quarterback position as both Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew were outperformed by third-stringer Trey Lance during a preseason game. Lance, striving to secure a place on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster, showcased his skills by throwing a touchdown pass and rushing for another in a 27-12 victory over the Raiders.

The former No. 3 overall draft pick, Lance completed 15 of 23 passes for 151 yards, playing impressively for the Cowboys throughout the game. Despite starter Dak Prescott being on the sidelines, backup Cooper Rush struggled, completing only 1 of 3 passes for 6 yards in the first quarter. Kicker Brandon Aubrey notably made a 66-yard field goal at the end of the first half, almost equalling the NFL record.

Aidan O’Connell seemed ready to stake his claim for the Raiders’ starting quarterback role but was disrupted by a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Kemon Hall early in the fourth quarter. O’Connell finished with 14 of 20 completions for 96 yards, including a touchdown and an interception. Minshew, O’Connell’s competition, also fell short in his performance, completing 10 of 21 passes for 95 yards and failing to score touchdowns.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce expressed a desire to name a starting quarterback following the game against the Cowboys, highlighting that neither O’Connell nor Minshew had proven themselves definitively during the preseason. Trey Lance’s impressive showing further complicated the decision-making process with his strong performance for the Cowboys.

Injuries affected the Cowboys as DT Mazi Smith missed the game due to an allergic reaction during training camp in Oxnard, California. Looking ahead, the Cowboys are set to face the Chargers next Saturday, while the Raiders will host the 49ers on Friday night.