The Dallas Cowboys are officially playing for pride in the season finale in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders. Mike McCarthy could be on his way out of town, and Washington already has their postseason spots locked up. This game is, for all intents and purposes, meaningless.
Cooper Rush is still the starting quarterback in Week 18, which is likely not going to please those who want to see No. 3 overall pick and strong-armed youngster Trey Lance strut his stiff. It seems like Lance is going to get some time, but only in a half-measured way that stands to benefit no one.
According to Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys are going to give Lance a heavy workload in the Week 18 game. The Cowboys are waiting until the last possible minute to get Lance some snaps, which could end up taking a good chunk of incentive change out of Rush's pocket.
Rush will get $500,000 in incentives if he plays 55% of the snaps this season, and he is right up on the fringes of that. There's a good chance Rush didn't hit that incentive, but the Cowboys' decision to give Lance some time may have some consequences for Rush.
Lance will officially start on Sunday, so Rush will not hit his incentive.
Cowboys to start Trey Lance in Week 18 against Commanders
Rush has thrown for 12 touchdowns against just five interceptions this season, going 4-4 in games Dallas has started. Despite the lack of a strong playoff push after the Prescott injury, Dallas never wavered in their pursuit of keeping Rush as the starting quarterback.
Even as the idea of quarterback resurgences along high draft picks start to come into vogue, Lance may be so poisoned by his struggles that he is unable to land a third job in the NFL. Lance has barely played, and his extended reps in the preseason have made it tough to get sold on him.
The fact the Cowboys can't even manage this situation right, as they are costing someone who has been a good soldier for them a ton of money due to their incompetence, is a sign of everything that is wrong with this latest era of Dallas football.