Mike McCarthy on Trey Lance: He’s Making Good Progress, Still Has Work to Do

Three years after the 49ers spent three first-round picks to acquire him, Trey Lance is still a work in progress.

Lance, who started just four games for the 49ers and then didn’t play at all last year after being traded to the Cowboys, got a lot of work in Sunday’s preseason game against the Rams. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Lance, who was a starter for just one year in college, needed work, so after Cooper Rush started and led the Cowboys’ offense in one rush, Lance played the rest of the game.

“I try to get as much out of it as I can.“You want to see him lead the offense at a high level,” McCarthy told ESPN. “The footwork and some of the things we’re asking him to do conceptually are new. We just need to work. We just need as much time as we can. I know I say it every time I talk about him, but he’s making good progress. He’s definitely on the right track. He’s a great athlete. Just a lot of work to do.”

Lance completed 25 of 41 passes for 188 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and three sacks. Those aren’t world-class numbers, but McCarthy said Lance did what he was asked to do.

“I was really impressed with his leadership skills,” McCarthy said. “Honestly, I tried to take advantage of every situation we were in, so those shots on fourth down, it’s going to pay off in the future. I think so.”

Rush remains ahead of Lance on the Cowboys’ depth chart, meaning there’s a good chance Lance will be benched all season, just like he did last season. That means if he’s ever going to develop, the preseason is his time.