San Francisco 49ers Choose Sam Darnold as Backup Quarterback
According to sources, the San Francisco 49ers have chosen Sam Darnold as their backup quarterback behind starter Brock Purdy. The news was first reported by NFL Network and confirmed by a league source who spoke to The Athletic.
In a teaser from a KNBR interview, coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that Darnold began separating himself from Trey Lance about 10 days ago. While the team had been exploring trade possibilities for Lance throughout the offseason, they never received a significant offer. Darnold, 26, will enter his first season with the 49ers and sixth in the NFL, having previously played for the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers.
Lance, 23, started last season as the 49ers’ starter but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. He is now entering his third NFL season. In Wednesday’s practice, Lance was not on the field, while the quarterbacks lined up as Purdy, Darnold, and Brandon Allen.
The decision to choose Darnold as the backup was based on performance floor rather than performance ceiling. Shanahan wants the offense to keep functioning without too much variability if Purdy goes down, and Darnold’s experience and consistency were factors in his selection.
The 49ers believe that Darnold’s struggles with the Jets and Panthers can be corrected in a better situation with their team. Throughout training camp and the preseason, Darnold has impressed, throwing only two interceptions in practice.
There are speculations about what the 49ers will do with Lance. Cutting him is unlikely due to his fully guaranteed contract, which would cost the team more against the salary cap than keeping him. However, a trade could save the 49ers $3.8 million of 2023 cap space, which is crucial as the team currently has limited room.
Lance could benefit from running the scout team offense in practice, given his lack of experience. Shanahan mentioned that the role would depend on the opponent each week and which quarterback gives the San Francisco defense the best look.
Lance was expected to be the 49ers’ long-term starter until his ankle injury last season. The team signed Darnold to a one-year deal in March. Shanahan emphasized that the decision to choose Darnold was not a reflection of giving up on Lance but rather acknowledging Darnold’s recent strong performance.
While Shanahan hopes that Lance remains on the team, he also mentioned discussing other situations for the young quarterback. Lance’s absence from Wednesday’s practice raised questions, and Shanahan’s comments hinted at some displeasure from Lance regarding his situation.
The 49ers will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, and it seems likely that Darnold will serve as the top backup quarterback for that game. The team remains open to keeping all three quarterbacks on the roster, but a trade for Lance could be considered if the right offer comes along.
The quarterback situation in San Francisco continues to evolve, and the coming weeks will shed more light on the future of Lance and the team’s plans going forward.