The reviews of a quarterback battle in San Francisco are drastically exaggerated, in line with head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan told Sports Illustrated that not solely would Brock Purdy have been the workforce’s beginning quarterback if the 49ers had superior to the Super Bowl final February and Purdy and Jimmy Garoppolo had each been wholesome, however that Purdy may even be the workforce’s beginning quarterback coming into the 2023 season so long as he’s medically cleared to play.

“He’s been [the starter] since last year ended,” Shanahan instructed SI. “He was always clearly our starter, but there were so many questions about his injury, how he’d come back from it, that we didn’t even know if he’d be ready for this year, so we had to prepare for everything else. I mean, Trey [Lance] was the guy we gave the keys to last year, so we were definitely excited to have him in a situation [to play], and we also didn’t know if Brock would be back, so we needed someone to come in and at least compete with Trey, and give us a chance, because Trey was hurt last year, and just got cleared before OTAs.”

Lance, the No. 3 general choose within the 2021 NFL Draft, began final season atop the 49ers’ quarterback depth chart earlier than struggling an ankle fracture in Week 2, pushing the veteran Garoppolo again into the beginning function till his personal harm. Purdy then suffered a significant harm of his personal within the 49ers’ NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, tearing the UCL in his throwing elbow when he collided with Philadelphia pass-rusher Haason Reddick.

Garoppolo left for the Las Vegas Raiders in free company final spring, whereas the 49ers signed veteran Sam Darnold so as to add depth to the quarterback room as Purdy and Lance recovered. However, with Purdy’s restoration timetable reportedly placing him in line to be cleared to play by Week 1, neither Darnold nor Lance might find yourself getting an opportunity to fill in earlier than then.

Lance began towards the Raiders within the 49ers’ first preseason game on Sunday, with blended outcomes.

Despite placing up good numbers (10-of-15 passing, 112 yards and a landing) Lance regarded uncomfortable within the pocket all through the affair in line with Colin Cowherd. Lance additionally took 4 sacks, together with two on his opening drive, and his landing move was a close to interception, which fell out of a Raiders’ defender’s lap earlier than discovering Ross Dwelley ultimately zone. 

“The Niners are pretty much in salvage stage with Trey Lance, ’cause they gave up so many picks in the first round to get him,” Cowherd asserted on “The Herd.” “They’re just trying to get him looks. He had three 3-and-outs, before throwing what was an interception, but it bounced off a player’s hands and then into one of their player’s hands for a touchdown. It was not very good. His quarterback rating was the most deceiving of the weekend, he basically threw two picks, and both were dropped.”

Is Trey Lance’s 49ers tenure up after struggles in preseason loss vs. Raiders? | THE HERD

Colin Cowherd explains why he has ‘seen sufficient’ of Lance.

For Cowherd, each Darnold and Purdy are higher choices than Lance.

“I think I’ve seen enough,” Cowherd stated. “This isn’t it. He’s not as accurate as Brock Purdy. He’s not as talented as Sam Darnold. … Darnold is more athletic and more talented, that’s why he keeps getting chances, and Brock Purdy’s more accurate. When I watched it this weekend, Sam Darnold is good enough to be a starter for the Niners. … The problem is, it’s no time to experiment, and that’s what Trey Lance is. And this coach, and this roster and this franchise’s momentum – you got to win now. 

“Trey Lance was additionally pressured 4 instances and sacked 4 instances. We know he is probably not correct, so the place’s the elusiveness? If you stress Lamar Jackson 4 instances, typically he’ll escape a few them.”

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San Francisco 49ers

Trey Lance

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