Sam Darnold Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

49ers HC has interesting take on Sam Darnold, team's other QBs

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/11/23

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently revealed just how optimistic he is about the team's quarterback situation.

Shanahan, in summary: "I do believe we have three quarterbacks talent-wise who are all capable of being franchise-like quarterbacks. But that’s just capable ... Brock’s done that in his eight. And we have two other guys on our roster who we strongly believe can do that also."
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 11, 2023

The Niners have one of the more unique quarterback circumstances in the NFL heading into the summer, with both Brock Purdy and Trey Lance coming off of injuries and Sam Darnold currently listed as the third stringer. If San Francisco decides to carry a fourth quarterback, Brandon Allen is in line for that role.

Longtime 49ers signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in March, and the team replaced him by signing Darnold to a one-year deal shortly after.

Purdy, meanwhile, is recovering from offseason elbow surgery that stems from his UCL tear during the NFC championship against the Philadelphia Eagles. Shanahan said on Wednesday that "barring any setbacks, (the team) expects Purdy to be back by training camp."

Lance is on the mend as well, as he works his way back from a broken ankle that he suffered early in the 2022 season. Like Darnold, Lance is a former No. 3 overall pick, with the former selected by the New York Jets in 2018 and the latter chosen by the Niners in 2021. Like Purdy (who was the 2022 NFL Draft's "Mr. Irrelevant"), Lance is expected to be good to go for training camp.

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