For the second time in the 2022 season, the 49ers are down a starting quarterback. In Week 2 they lost Trey Lance to an ankle injury, and in Week 13 Jimmy Garoppolo went down for the season with a broken foot. Despite Lance’s progression into attending games and throwing a little during pregame, head coach Kyle Shanahan on Sunday ruled out Lance’s chances of returning this season.
There was some question about whether the timeline for recovery for Lance would give him a chance to return for a postseason run, and Shanahan had never given a firm answer on Lance’s ability to play again this season.
That changed Sunday.
“No, he can’t,” Shanahan responded when asked if there was a chance Lance would be activated.
It was sort of assumed when the prognosis for Lance came back as a fractured fibula and ligament damage following a gruesome injury against the Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium. However, this is the first confirmation that his injury and the ensuing surgery would keep him out for the year.
That means it’s up to rookie seventh-round pick Brock Purdy to take over as the starting signal caller the rest of the way. Veteran QB Josh Johnson is expected to sign as his backup while Jacob Eason remains on the practice squad.
For the rest of this season, Lance and Garoppolo will only be observers.
