San Francisco 49ers’ Quarterback Situation Takes Center Stage In Season-Ending Press Conference

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and basic supervisor John Lynch held their season-ending press convention on Wednesday from their headquarters in Santa Clara, California.

The meet-and-greet with media got here mere days after San Francisco’s in any other case profitable 2022 season got here to a bitter finish in Philadelphia. Driving a 12-game successful streak heading into Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation, the 49ers have been blasted by a superior Eagles staff, 31-7.

Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy suffered an elbow damage within the 49ers’ first possession of the sport. Whereas he would return later within the matchup, the seventh-round decide from Iowa State was severely restricted. It led to a run-first offense and quick passes because the 49ers’ season got here to an unpleasant finish.

There’s now a number of questions surrounding the 49ers’ quarterback place after they misplaced within the NFC Championship Recreation for a second consecutive season. Purdy’s elbow damage and return timeline was a serious level of focus, as was the standing of impending free agent Jimmy Garoppolo. Fellow quarterback Trey Lance — sidelined since Week 2 with an ankle damage — was additionally a subject of dialogue as Shanahan and Lynch spoke to the media.

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When requested about the opportunity of Garoppolo returning for an additional season, Shanahan was about as clear as he might be. “No, I don’t see any state of affairs of that (occurring),” the top coach mentioned.

It was roughly this time final yr that almost all figured Garoppolo had performed his ultimate recreation in a 49ers uniform. Garoppolo had suffered a shoulder damage in San Francisco’s NFC Wild Card win over the Dallas Cowboys. He would play the subsequent two weeks, practically main San Francisco to the NFC Championship over the Los Angeles Rams.

San Francisco’s brass made the choice to maneuver on from Garoppolo and identify 2021 first-round decide Trey Lance its beginning quarterback shortly thereafter. The 49ers had invested a ton in buying and selling up for Lance through the 2021 NFL Draft, and have been prepared to maneuver on to him.

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This case modified dramatically after Garoppolo underwent surgical procedure. San Francisco couldn’t discover an low season commerce associate for the veteran quarterback. Operating skinny on choices, he opted to signal a restructured take care of San Francisco to be Lance’s backup.

As soon as Lance went down with the ankle damage in Week 2, Garoppolo took over and led San Francisco to a 7-3 document in 10 begins. Garoppolo himself went down to a different damage himself in Week 13 towards the Miami Dolphins, struggling a foot fracture.

Not like final offseason, San Francisco’s public stance concerning Garoppolo now appears to be that the connection is over. He’s an impending free agent. The 49ers don’t have any recourse to put the franchise tag on the Tremendous Bowl quarterback because of language included within the aforementioned restructured contract. He’s nearly as good as gone.

Focus On Brock Purdy’s Well being

After Purdy went right down to damage early in Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation, reviews surfaced that he was coping with an UCL damage to his throwing elbow. After San Francisco’s loss, the assumption was that he had suffered a torn UCL in his proper elbow.

Sometimes, an damage of this ilk would price a participant six months. That’s depending on the participant not having to bear full reconstruction of the UCL (Tommy John Surgical procedure). Stated process may sideline a participant one full yr.

Based mostly on what the 49ers informed media on Wednesday, it looks as if Purdy’s timeline for return of the shorter selection.

“It appears to be constant that the precise method is that one takes about that six months. They’re persevering with to work by way of that course of, however they appear inspired by the prognosis,” San Francisco 49ers basic supervisor John Lynch on Brock Purdy.

Coined Mr. Irrelevant because the final decide within the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy put up an historic run as soon as he took over for Garoppolo throughout that Dolphins recreation. He led San Francisco to seven consecutive wins, accounting for 17 complete touchdowns in comparison with 4 interceptions, earlier than exiting early in he NFC Championship Recreation.

The timeline for a return to the sector now appears to be a while firstly of coaching camp, that means that Lance will probably take starter reps through the 49ers’ offseason program.

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Trey Lance And Relying On Two Younger Quarterbacks

Outdoors of the truth that each Purdy and Lance are coming off severe accidents, there’s one thing to be mentioned a few Tremendous Bowl contender counting on inexperienced gamers to steer the quarterback room.

Courting again to his days at North Dakota State, Lance has thrown all of 117 passes for the reason that finish of the 2019 season. He crammed in for Garoppolo a pair video games as a rookie in 2021 and began two video games to open his sophomore marketing campaign. Not less than from the angle of San Francisco’s brass, availability is essential for Lance.

“Trey had his points, and Trey’s had a tough go right here the final couple of years,” Lynch informed reporters. “He is clearly going to should show that he can keep wholesome.”

This definitely complicates issues from the 49ers’ perspective. If they’re involved about Lance’s potential to remain wholesome, there’s going to be a necessity for a veteran presence. Shanahan was not shopping for into this narrative, saying “I do know we have now two starters on our staff proper now that I imagine we are able to win with.” The top coach went on to notice that “you’re not that desirous to go go searching.”

Issues have been thrown for a loop on Wednesday with seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion Tom Brady saying his retirement after 23 seasons. He was set to hit free company in March and had been linked to the 49ers.

Wanting San Francisco trying to drag off a blockbuster commerce for somebody like Aaron Rodgers, it stands to motive that including a veteran backup is the one probably state of affairs right here.

Issues can change. Purdy may go for one other route in his restoration, forcing him out for an extended time period. Lance may show through the low season program that he’s not starter-caliber.

For now, the San Francisco 49ers’ brass mentioned all the precise issues publicly of their season-ending press convention. Whether or not we must always take it with a grain of salt stays to be seen.