In his third NFL season, Trey Lance’s trajectory is not living up to the expectations set for a No. 3 overall pick. Despite lacking support from his backup teammates in the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, Lance displayed signs of uncertainty and hesitation. This is understandable given his limited playing time since the 2019 college season. He made several mistakes during the game.
The focus now shifts from Lance’s ability to compete for a starting spot to whether he or Sam Darnold will secure the backup quarterback role for the 49ers. Based on Sunday’s performance, Lance likely did not solidify his position as the second-string quarterback behind Brock Purdy. Although he finished with decent statistics, completing 10 of 15 passes for 112 yards, Lance also faced four sacks and narrowly escaped two potential interceptions, one of which was in the end zone.
There is still time before the regular season begins, but Lance’s preseason debut could have gone much better. The 49ers went three-and-out on Lance’s first three drives, and even during his fourth drive, which ended with a touchdown, he made a risky throw into a crowded end zone. Fortunately for Lance, Raiders cornerback Duke Shelley dropped what could have been an interception, and the ball ended up in the hands of 49ers tight end Ross Dwelley. Overall, it was not a standout moment for Lance.
At least Lance managed to avoid another three-and-out on subsequent drives. On the 49ers’ initial drive, Lance hesitated on pass attempts, allowing the Raiders’ defense to close in on him, resulting in two sacks. On the second drive, he again appeared indecisive, quickly throwing an incomplete pass over the middle under pressure, leading to another three-and-out. The third drive followed a similar pattern, with Lance demonstrating indecision and slow decision-making, including an overthrown pass on play-action. Lance did showcase some athleticism on a scramble, gaining a couple of yards, but his failure to complete any passes on the third down resulted in yet another sack and a three-and-out.
Fortunately, Lance showed improvement as the game progressed, although errors were still present. He finally achieved a first down with around 11 minutes left in the second quarter, successfully completing a quick pass to the tight end. He later connected with Willie Snead for a 12-yard gain while scrambling to his right. Lance ultimately secured a touchdown, though it was a mistake, and the coaches will undoubtedly address it with him.
On the fifth drive, Lance received some protection from the offensive line on the first down, but he opted not to throw and was subsequently sacked. However, he quickly rebounded with an impressive throw to Chris Conley over the middle on third-and-10. The drive stalled when a fourth-and-2 run was stopped.
Although Lance had his ups and downs, he did manage to finish the half on a relatively positive note. Despite linebacker Amari Burney reading Lance’s eyes and nearly intercepting a pass over the middle, Lance completed a 24-yard pass to Conley and a 22-yard pass to tight end Troy Fumagalli after Burney’s drop. This, along with a defensive penalty, brought the 49ers within field goal range. Unfortunately, rookie third-round pick Jake Moody missed the field goal attempt as the half ended, and Sam Darnold took over as the quarterback in the second half.
Lance faced significant challenges due to a subpar offensive line and the absence of starting receivers. While this was not an ideal situation, Lance also did not fully capitalize on the opportunities he had.
The massive trade made by the 49ers to acquire Lance now looks questionable at best. San Francisco gave up three first-round picks and a third-round pick to move up and select Lance, who has only started four games and attempted 102 passes. Injuries have hindered his progress, and the 49ers have only won one game with Lance as the starter and finisher. This raises concerns about the steep cost paid for just one victory against a weak Houston Texans team towards the end of the 2021 season.
Brock Purdy is the clear No. 1 quarterback for the 49ers, assuming he remains healthy following offseason surgery. Once he received clearance for practice, any debate about the starting position ceased.
It remains to be seen if Lance can secure the backup role or generate enough interest in trade offers during the remainder of the preseason. However, based on the initial signs, the outlook is not promising.
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