Trey Lance is coming back for his starting San Francisco 49ers quarterback spot as he warns Brock Purdy that he's ready to "compete" ahead of the 2023/24 NFL season.
Lance, 23, was selected third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and the Minnesota-born thrower spent his rookie season playing back-up to Jimmy Garoppolo. But following Garoppolo's 2022 demotion to San Francisco's No.2 QB and seventh-round 2022 NFL Draft selection of Purdy, Lance was named the 49ers' starting quarterback.
It was Lance's time to shine - but his season didn't go to plan as it ended with an ankle injury in Game Two against the Seattle Seahawks. Garoppolo was then recalled to start in Lance's place, but like the 2021 first-round selection, his season would end early with an injury against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13, placing all responsibility on third-choice Purdy.
Thankfully for the 49ers, Purdy stepped up and performed - walking away with a regular season record of five wins and no losses in games he started. Purdy became the only quarterback in his first career start to beat a team led by Tom Brady, when the 49ers impressively defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35–7.
With Purdy throwing, the 49ers finished top of the NFC West and had a run deep into the postseason, reaching the Conference Championships, where they lost 31-7 to Super Bowl finalists, the Philadelphia Eagles.
A standout season earned Purdy a spot on the All-Rookie Team, and he's been praised by the returning Lance for his achievements. Lance has, however, also issued a warning to Purdy over the 49ers' starting QB spot, insisting he's back and ready to "compete".
"My opportunity is just to come in to compete, and that’s all I wanted,” Lance said. “So for me, I don’t want to take anything away from Brock, and no one should be able to take anything away from Brock. He did what he did last year, and he deserves all the credit in the world for it. Like I said, for me, I just wanted an opportunity to compete.”
Lance was also able to learn a thing or two from the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning QB Patrick Mahomes during the offseason. The pair worked out in April with Mahomes in the Dallas area.
"Being able to be around Patrick was awesome,” Lance said this week during 49ers organized team activities. “Just picking his brain, learning about just the type of guy he is, how he spends his free time, offseason, and then more about his in-season schedule as well.”
