Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy addressed the media on Wednesday as the Cowboys prepare for a critical Week 3 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. While it may seem early in the season to call any game a ‘must-win,’ it’s clear the Ravens have a chance to keep the Cowboys on their heels.
Dallas is coming off a rough 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints, where their defense was picked apart. With their confidence shaken, they now face the reigning NFL MVP, quarterback Lamar Jackson—a much tougher challenge. The Ravens are also winless, but history doesn’t favor teams that start 0-3. Baltimore must pull out all the stops to prepare for this matchup.
But it seems the Ravens aren’t the only ones trying to get ready. According to McCarthy, the Cowboys have a “secret weapon” to help them prepare for Jackson. Drumroll, please…
Cowboys have a "secret weapon" to help them prepare against the Ravens
Enter Trey Lance—Dallas’ “secret weapon” to simulate Lamar Jackson’s dynamic play in practice. McCarthy is banking on Lance’s athleticism to give the Cowboys' defense a taste of what they’ll face on Sunday.
Yes, Trey Lance—the same quarterback who threw five interceptions in the preseason finale—is being tasked with imitating Jackson. McCarthy isn’t counting on Lance to mimic Jackson perfectly, but to at least simulate his mobility and style in practice.
“Well, he's dynamic, No. 1. We feel really good about what Trey can give us there as far as running those scout teams reps, and Cooper will handle some of the other things too," the head coach said, via DLLS Cowboys. "Lamar is a dynamic, dynamic player.”
Mike McCarthy on facing Lamar Jackson:
— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) September 18, 2024
“Well, he's dynamic, No. 1. We feel really good about what Trey [Lance] can give us there as far as running those scout teams reps, and Cooper [Rush] will handle some of the other things too. Lamar is a dynamic, dynamic player.” pic.twitter.com/299eCqEOwv
While Lance might offer a glimpse of Jackson’s athleticism, the reality is miles apart. Jackson, arguably the greatest dual-threat QB in NFL history, brings a level of unpredictability, decision-making, and field awareness that can’t be replicated. Comparing Lance to Jackson is like preparing for the PGA Tour after a successful round of mini-golf—it’s just not the same.
In his career, Lance has accumulated 235 rushing yards on 54 attempts. Lamar Jackson, on the other hand, has already put up 167 rushing yards in just two games this season. Lance averages 4.4 yards per carry; Jackson averages 8.0. The numbers make it clear: this comparison simply doesn’t hold up.
Mentioning Lance and Jackson in the same breath is borderline insulting. One is a two-time MVP and the most electrifying player in the league, while the other is a struggling former first-round pick still trying to find his footing.
To be fair, this isn’t a direct dig at Jackson, but more about McCarthy overestimating Lance’s ability to replicate one of the most unique quarterbacks in NFL history. By all means, use Trey Lance to prepare for Lamar Jackson, but don’t be surprised when that strategy falls flat. We’ll see how well this plan works on Sunday.