Cowboys vs. Raiders: Odd 'Trey Lance Trade Means New Role for QB

Will Grier is destined for the waiver wire after the trade for Trey Lance but the Dallas Cowboys are giving him a hearty parting gift.

Will Grier is about to do what Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, and Tony Romo never could as the Dallas Cowboys' quarterback: graciously accept a proper farewell from the Arlington faithful. 

Unlike that illustrious trio, each of whom saw their exclusive Dallas careers end unexpectedly due to injuries, Grier will get a one-night-only farewell tour in North Texas. The fifth-year man is the odd man out in the Cowboys' arms race after Trey Lance joined the team on Friday evening through a trade with San Francisco.

CowboysSI.com has confirmed that Grier is on his way out, as Dallas will keep Lance and the tenured Cooper Rush as the backups to Dak Prescott. The Cowboys, however, are offering him a generous severance package: Grier is slated to receive every offensive snap in Dallas' preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night (8 p.m. CT, KTVT), giving him a de facto audition tape for the Cowboys' 31 rivals.

Grier, 28, had been in the Dallas system since September 2021 after he was one of the final camp cuts of his original employers, the Carolina Panthers. Chosen in the third round of the 2019 draft out of Florida/West Virginia, Grier did not play a regular season down in Dallas but was a summer staple in each of the last two preseasons. Grier briefly appeared on the active roster when Rush subbed for an injured Prescott last fall.

Last week, Grier was granted a "super long" look in Dallas' exhibition in Seattle. In that showing, he completed 13-of-18 passes for 136 yards and an interception in a 22-14 defeat. Grier previously posted two scores in the summer opener against Jacksonville.

Despite the loss and the turnover blemish, McCarthy lauded Grier's performance in defeat.

"I thought Will was in total command of the offense," McCarthy said. "(He) did an excellent job, particularly in the keeps and quarterback movement schemes. I thought the scramble drill was extremely productive."

"If you take the one throw out of there, he probably has a good night. I think Will has put together two games where there is a lot there that excites me. He has really grown since last year." 

Now Grier will get a third game to showcase his skills before Trey Lance takes over his locker at The Star.

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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