Following the conclusion of the 2021-22 NFL season, the expectation in San Francisco was that Trey Lance would take over as the starting quarterback and Jimmy Garoppolo would be either traded or released.
Now, Lance is the starter but Jimmy G shockingly remains on the roster after he took a pay-cut to remain with the 49ers as their new backup quarterback.
This decision is reportedly not sitting well with Lance, who was less than pleased with the decision, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer:
“And while I heard Lance was a little annoyed in the immediate aftermath, he’s a smart, mature kid who I believe can handle it,” Breer wrote in his Monday Morning Quarterback column. “Truth is, if he couldn’t, you might have bigger questions about where the Niners are at the position.”
To the 22-year-old Lance’s credit, his coach Kyle Shanahan revealed the young quarterback responded positively when told Garoppolo would be returning. It was unexpected, but the team’s inability to trade the 30-year-old resulted in the compromise.
“When I told Trey that Jimmy was going to come back it’s like, ‘Awesome,’” Shanahan told reporters on Aug. 30. “‘That dude was awesome for me last year. I can’t wait to be the same way.’ Trey was great.”
And in speaking with reporters shortly after the news broke, Lance expressed excitement at having his “big bro” Garoppolo back out at practice after receiving assurance from Shanahan that nothing would change.
“It makes the QB room all that much better,” Lance said Sept. 1. “Another great resource for me. A guy who has played in this offense, a guy who has done it, who has played a lot of ball. He’s going to add a lot to our QB room.”
The San Francisco 49ers kick off their 2022 NFL season in Chicago against the Bears on Sept. 11.
