Trey Lance out, Jimmy Garoppolo in: The state of the San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Because the San Francisco 49ers watched quarterback Trey Lance depart on a cart together with his proper leg in an air solid, the unmistakable feeling of “right here we go once more” washed over the sideline.

It did not take lengthy to determine that Lance’s harm was severe. Quickly after Sunday’s 27-7 win in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks, coach Kyle Shanahan introduced that Lance has a fractured proper ankle that may require season-ending surgical procedure. It is the third time in six seasons below Shanahan that the Niners have misplaced their beginning quarterback to a season-ending harm. It occurred to Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 3 of 2018 (torn left ACL), Garoppolo in Week 8 of 2020 (excessive ankle sprain) and now Lance.

The earlier two instances, an harm to Garoppolo was a demise knell for the Niners’ season. He missed a mixed 23 video games in these two seasons and the Niners spiraled to a mixed end of 10-22. However the Niners consider issues will likely be completely different this time as a result of it is Garoppolo who will likely be changing the injured quarterback.

“We really feel very lucky to have Jimmy right here as our No. 2 quarterback, and particularly when your starter will get harm, it is good to know the expertise and the way good of a participant he’s,” Shanahan mentioned. “Now we have been on this earlier than, and I do really feel we’re a bit of extra ready with our backup proper now.”

On Sunday, the temper within the locker room after a decisive victory in opposition to a division rival was understandably somber because the Niners nervous about their younger franchise quarterback.

Whereas the potential for quarterback controversy this season has disappeared, Lance’s harm raises a brand new batch of questions.

What’s the plan at quarterback?

For 2022, the plan is easy: Garoppolo will begin in Lance’s place. It is the job he is aware of finest after making 45 regular-season begins for San Francisco since he was acquired in 2017. The 49ers have had loads of success with Garoppolo below heart, going 31-14 within the regular-season video games, 4-2 in postseason and making a visit to the Tremendous Bowl.

Rookie Brock Purdy would be the No. 2 quarterback behind Garoppolo. Purdy was “Mr. Irrelevant” within the 2022 NFL draft, because the 49ers used the final decide (No. 262 total) on him. He is now one snap away from gaining loads of relevance.

“My mindset hasn’t modified,” Purdy mentioned. “I have been prepared. I’ve studied as if I have been the starter for the week, so my function is now completely different when it comes to suiting up and being able to go in simply in case one thing occurs.”

The Niners aren’t anticipated so as to add one other quarterback to the roster however will seemingly want to search out one other arm for the apply squad.

What does this imply for Lance?

Lance’s harm carries vital implications within the quick and long run. The Niners spent the offseason and coaching camp with Lance because the starter. That meant some tweaks to San Francisco’s method, with extra designed quarterback runs and deep passes built-in into the offense. They’re going to must return what they’ve finished properly with Garoppolo, which might take a while given Garoppolo will likely be working towards with the beginning offense for the primary time since January.

Of extra significance is what this implies for Lance’s future. He performed sparingly as a rookie and wasn’t even 5 full quarters into the season earlier than the harm, which implies the Niners nonetheless do not actually know what they’ve in him. That does not even account for the way Lance goes to get well or what he’ll seem like when he returns.

The Niners knew Lance would take some lumps this season as he realized on the fly, however the hope was he’d progress and the protection and run sport might preserve the Niners aggressive. Now he does not get the possibility. Assuming Lance returns in time to begin the 2023 season, he can have had 5 begins since 2019, his redshirt freshman season at North Dakota State.

There is a monetary side, too. A part of the enchantment of handing the keys to Lance was the Niners would have him on an affordable rookie contract that might enable them to allocate sources elsewhere. Lance will depend $7.75 million in opposition to the cap this yr however will likely be one other yr nearer to free company when he returns from harm.

“It is unlucky for him,” Shanahan mentioned. “We’re actually hurting for him, and we had been actually hoping to see numerous him this yr.”

What does this imply for Garoppolo’s future?

When the Niners introduced Garoppolo again, they believed he was the final word insurance coverage coverage. A quarterback who had been below heart for 2 journeys to the NFC Championship Recreation and Tremendous Bowl LIV for $6.5 million assured was a no brainer regardless of any potential awkwardness which may go together with it.

Sunday supplied a sobering reminder of why, after Lance — who had suffered knee and finger accidents in a restricted pattern final yr — suffered his ankle harm. The Niners hoped such a situation would by no means arrive however not less than discovered solace that Garoppolo was there to step in.

The irony lies with Niners having to depend on Garoppolo to remain wholesome to remain in rivalry. The No. 1 cause the Niners wished to maneuver from Garoppolo to Lance was due to Garoppolo’s incapacity to remain wholesome. That Lance’s harm occurred so early means Garoppolo has to attempt to keep on the sector for not less than the subsequent 15 video games.

It might additionally imply large issues for Garoppolo’s checking account. As a part of his reworked contract, Garoppolo has greater than $8 million in incentives based mostly on enjoying time and efficiency. For instance, he will get $250,000 for each sport during which he takes not less than 25% of the offensive snaps, $100,000 for each win in these video games.

And although Garoppolo has a no-trade clause, there’s zero probability he will likely be dealt now. The opposite notable addition to Garoppolo’s contract was a no-tag clause, which implies he can turn into an unrestricted free agent after the season and the Niners cannot stop him from testing the market.

That might become extra significant than anybody imagined when the deal was introduced.

What occurs if Garoppolo has a very good yr and the Niners go deep into the postseason? Would the Niners really feel snug turning it over to Lance? Is it doable the Niners would wish to pay a premium to convey Garoppolo again?

These are questions that will likely be answered in time, however the truth that they will already be requested tells you all you might want to find out about this distinctive state of affairs.

“It is by no means about you,” Garoppolo mentioned. “It is about successful soccer video games. I am an enormous believer in that. Individuals can say no matter they need, discuss stats, no matter, however once you win soccer video games, that is what we’re right here to do. And that is all I am making an attempt to do.”