The San Francisco 49ers expressed optimism about their quarterback scenario heading into the 2023 season on the Annual League Meeting this week, and whereas Brock Purdy seems to be the front-runner for the beginning quarterback job, CEO Jed York isn’t giving up on 2021 first spherical draft choose Trey Lance.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan instructed reporters Tuesday that Lance entered the 2022 season because the beginning quarterback, however after struggling a season-ending ankle damage, paired with Purdy’s unsuspecting efficiency that took the Niners to the NFC Championship, the panorama of this offseason could be a lot completely different.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrates with teammates after operating for a landing towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer recreation in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
“We’re going to start out whoever provides us the perfect likelihood to win,” Shanahan stated. “Brock’s a man who’s main that as a result of we’ve seen him play. But he’s harm proper now, and I don’t know if we’ll have him Week 1 and I don’t know if we’ll have him in coaching camp. I feel there’s a chance on all that.”
49ERS’ KYLE SHANAHAN ADDRESSES BROCK PURDY RETURN, QUARTERBACK SITUATION: ‘WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS’
But for York, Lance might nonetheless be that man.
“I wouldn’t change something that we’ve made in regards to the determination with Trey,” York stated, by way of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I feel Trey has an opportunity to be nice. But it’s a bonus if you get anyone on the finish of the seventh spherical that finally ends up coming in and being very impactful on your workforce.”
Quarterback Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers seems to be onward in the course of the first half towards the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 11, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“You can’t fear about, properly, Trey hasn’t performed as many video games as we’d’ve preferred,” he continued. “It’s not his fault. He bought injured.”
York additionally famous that the rookie quarterback offers have allowed the 49ers to make aggressive strikes, and regardless of Lance’s extra expensive deal, York believes it nonetheless works.
“When you take a look at after we drafted him, we wished to verify we had a younger quarterback on a rookie contract that enables you to have the ability to say, ‘All proper, Javon [Hargrave] is form of a bonus.’”
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) is helped onto a cart in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The 49ers gave up three first spherical draft picks to take Lance on the No. 3 general choose. He signed a totally assured four-year, $34.1 million contract whereas Purdy, “Mr. Irrelevant,” signed to a four-year, $3.7 million deal.
“Brock performed eight video games and gained all of them and performed at a particularly excessive stage. And we’re very excited to have that stage of a participant as our quarterback,” Shanahan stated Tuesday.
“Now we consider Trey might be that, we’d’ve carried out it final yr if he stayed wholesome. The good factor for him is, with Brock being harm, he had the chance to try to regain that and all the things.”