Trey Lance’s NFL career took a sudden turn on Wednesday as he went from being the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in 2022 to falling down the depth chart to the third-string quarterback. Lance was informed by Coach Kyle Shanahan that he had been beaten out by Sam Darnold for the QB2 job, and shortly after, Lance was absent from the team’s practice in Santa Clara.
General manager John Lynch praised Lance for handling the news with class, acknowledging his devastation at not obtaining the starting job. Lance’s absence from practice surprised many, including teammate and 49ers captain Fred Warner. Shanahan later revealed that it was a mutual decision for Lance to take the day off to clear his head.
The third-string quarterback, Brock Purdy, who had an impressive rookie season falling just one win short of Super Bowl LVII, was named the starter for the 2023 season. The competition for the backup role had been ongoing throughout training camp until Lance’s unexpected setback.
Lance has faced numerous obstacles in his NFL career, including injuries that have hindered his progress. The timing of this setback couldn’t have been worse for Lance, as the 49ers are aiming to return to the Super Bowl with their win-now roster.
Lance, who was selected No. 3 overall by the 49ers in the 2021 draft, now faces the challenge of regaining his position and proving himself once again. It remains to be seen how he will respond to this setback and what his future holds with the team.
Fans can tune in to the 49ers Talk Podcast for further discussion and analysis on the team’s quarterback situation and other news surrounding the 49ers.