Trey Lance 'going to have to earn' starting QB job

The San Francisco 49ers entered the offseason with uncertainty at quarterback. Projected starter Brock Purdy is recovering from elbow surgery, Jimmy Garoppolo left for the Las Vegas Raiders and multiple reports indicate the organization lost confidence in Trey Lance.

To help address the situation, San Francisco signed Sam Darnold, bringing in the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to provide a healthy arm for training camp and challenge Lance while Purdy recovers. While the front office and coaching staff remain committed to Purdy as the starter if he’s healthy, the timeline for his return to the field is uncertain.

Until Purdy is cleared to throw, Lance and Darnold will be splitting reps this summer. While Lance is now healthy and knows Kyle Shanahan’s system, some around the league believe he might lose the starting job to Darnold.

Appearing on SportsCenter, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler shared that many around the NFL believe Darnold’s addition to the 49ers is significant. Amid the team’s shaky confidence in Lance and with Purdy sidelined, Darnold could be the starter in Week 1.

“I’ve talked to multiple teams who believe that Darnold signing is sneaky significant," Fowler said. "That this is a guy who could start for them Week 1, play meaningful snaps. They believe he’s a great fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. So if Trey Lance is going to play, he’s going to have to earn it against Darnold.”

Darnold played some of the best football in his career late in the 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers. From Weeks 12-17, he posted a 105.4 passer rating with a 7-1 TD-INT ratio, averaging 8.8 yards per attempt and tacking on two rushing touchdowns.

While Lance is expected to split first-team reps with Darnold, he could lose ground in the quarterback battle early on. The former No. 3 overall pick, who has been shopped around the league, has played in just eight NFL games since being drafted and the league-wide belief is San Francisco no longer has confidence in him as a starter for a Super Bowl contender.

If Darnold emerges in the quarterback battle, San Francisco could take a cautious approach and ease Purdy into action. With one of the best NFL defenses and a high-scoring offense, the 49ers would likely still be favored to win the NFC West even if Darnold opens the season as the starting quarterback.