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 remains a work in progress.

Lance, who started just four games for the 49ers and then didn’t play last year after being traded to the Cowboys, saw plenty of action 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 drive, Lance played the rest of the way.

“Trying to get as much as I can from him,” McCarthy said, via ESPN. “You want to see him commanding the offense at a high level. The footwork and some of the things we ask him to do conceptually are new. We just need work. We just need as much time as possible. I know I say this every time I talk about him, but he’s making good progress. He’s definitely wired the right way. He is a great athlete. Just a lot of work to do.”

Lance completed 25 of 41 passes for 188 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions and three sacks. Those aren’t worldwide numbers, but McCarthy said Lance did what was asked of him.

“I really liked his command,” McCarthy said. “Frankly, I tried … to take advantage of every situation we were in, so those fourth-down snaps will pay dividends in the future. I believe in that.”

Rush remains ahead of Lance on the Cowboys’ depth chart, meaning there’s a good chance Lance will sit on the bench all season, just like he did last season. Which means if he wants to develop, pre-season is his time.