The San Francisco 49ers are starting Trey Lance in their preseason opener on Sunday amid, arguably, the NFL’s most intriguing quarterback battle.
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed in an interview with KNBR that Lance will get first run with the offense against the Las Vegas Raiders. Brock Purdy reportedly won’t play, while Sam Darnold, the former New York Jets starter competing for a backup job, will play in the second half.
Lance has spent all offseason competing to become the Niners’ starting quarterback, but the biggest variable in that battle has been more about Brock Purdy’s health than what Shanahan is seeing in camp, where Lance has been drawing strong reviews. Shanahan hasn’t been shy with his praise for Purdy, though, and it would take a massive regression in form — read: more than three picks in a joint practice — to change that.
This is Trey Lance chance to show what he can do. Even if Brock Purdy is locked in as a starter that doesn’t mean Lance career is done. There are multiple ways he can use this preseason to catapult his career.
The first option is that he plays well and the 49ers are able to trade him to another team. If the 49ers can move off of Lance they just might. Sending him to a team for a second chance would be exactly what Lance needs.
The second option is that he plays well and Brock Purdy can’t recreate the magic from last year. If Purdy struggles and Lance had played well, there is a chance he is given another opportunity to start.
