ARLINGTON, Texas — In a notable turn of events, Trey Lance took the helm as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in their game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. This marked Lance’s first regular-season start since he was drafted third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.

Heading into the final game of the season, the Cowboys (7-9) had already been eliminated from playoff consideration, while the Commanders (11-5) were gearing up for the playoff race. Throughout the previous eight games, Cooper Rush had filled in as the starting quarterback following Dak Prescott’s injury, which ended his season due to a torn hamstring.

During the Cowboys’ opening drive, Lance demonstrated his capabilities by completing 3 of 4 passes for 70 yards. This strong start culminated in a 34-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey, putting Dallas ahead 3-0 early in the game.

After being traded to the Cowboys for a fourth-round draft pick last season—following a loss in the backup competition while still with the 49ers—Lance showed resilience during the preseason, where he had a significant amount of playing time. Notably, he participated in the entire preseason finale but struggled, throwing five interceptions in a 26-19 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 49ers took a chance when they moved up in the draft to select Lance, despite his limited college experience at North Dakota State. He had chosen to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.

Over his two-year stint with the 49ers, Lance only made four starting appearances. His last start came in Week 2 of the 2022 season, during which he suffered a severe ankle injury. Following his departure from the starting role, Brock Purdy stepped in and successfully led the team to the NFC Championship and a Super Bowl in the subsequent seasons.

In this context, Lance’s performance for the Cowboys against a playoff-bound team was filled with significance as he sought to prove himself after a tumultuous series of events in his career.