SANTA CLARA CA — As the San Francisco 49ers Observed quarterback Trey Lance Leave on a cart, his right leg in an Air Cast. The unmistakable feeling that “here you go again” washed across the sideline.
It wasn’t long before Lance’s injury became serious. Soon after Sunday’s 27-7 win For the Seattle SeahawksKyle Shanahan, Lance’s coach, announced the news. a fractured right ankle It will be necessary to have season-ending surgery. This is the third season in six seasons that Shanahan’s Niners have lost their quarterback to a season-ending illness. It happened. Jimmy Garoppolo In Week 3 of 2018, Garoppolo was injured in the ACL. Now, Garoppolo is in Week 8 2020 with a high ankle sprain.
An injury to Garoppolo the previous two seasons was devastating for the Niners. In those two seasons, Garoppolo missed 23 games and the Niners finished 10-22. However, the Niners believe that things will improve this season as Garoppolo will take over for the injured quarterback.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Jimmy here as our number one quarterback. Shanahan stated that Jimmy is our No. 2 quarterback and it’s important to have the experience and know how great a player he can be. “We’ve been through this before, so I feel we’re more prepared for our backup.”
After a win over a division rival, Sunday was an emotional day in the locker room. The Niners were worried about their young quarterback.
Lance’s injury raises questions about the possibility of quarterback controversy.
What’s the quarterback’s plan?
The plan for 2022 is simple: Garoppolo takes Lance’s spot. After 45 regular-season starts in San Francisco, Garoppolo knows the job best. Garoppolo has had a lot of success for the 49ers. They went 31-14 in regular season games, 4-2 postseason and made it to the Super Bowl.
Rookie Brock Purdy Garoppolo will be the No. Garoppolo is the No. 2 quarterback. Purdy wasMr. Irrelevant” In the 2022 NFL Draft, the 49ers used their last pick (No. He was 262 overall. He is just one snap away to gaining much relevance.
Purdy stated that “my mindset has not changed.” “I have been prepared. I’ve trained as if I were the starter for the week. My role now is to suit up and be ready for whatever happens.
While the Niners won’t likely add another quarterback to their roster, they will most likely need to find another player for the practice team.
What does this all mean for Lance?
Lance’s injury could have serious implications both in the short- and long-term. Lance was the Niners’ starter during the offseason, training camp and beyond. San Francisco made some adjustments to its offense, including more well-designed quarterback runs and deeper passes. They will have to do the same with Garoppolo. This could be a long process, as Garoppolo will be working with the starting offense for his first practice since January.
This is of greater importance for Lance’s career. As a rookie, he played very sparingly and was only five quarters into the season. This means that the Niners don’t know much about Lance’s future. This doesn’t take into account how Lance will recover and what he will look when he comes back.
The Niners knew Lance would have some struggles this season, as he was learning on the fly. But they were hopeful that he would progress and that his defense and run game would allow them to remain competitive. He doesn’t have the chance. In the event Lance returns to North Dakota State in time to begin the 2023 season he will have five starts since his redshirt freshman season.
There is also a financial component. The Niners offered Lance a rookie contract with a reasonable price that would allow them to use their resources elsewhere. This was part of the appeal. Lance will have $7.75 million to the cap for this year, but will still be eligible for free agency in the year following his injury.
Shanahan stated that it was “unfortunate for him.” We are really sorry for him and were hoping to see more of him this year.
What does this mean?
The Niners believed Garoppolo was their best insurance policy when they brought Garoppolo back. It was easy to bring back a quarterback who had been in the center of two trips to Super Bowl LIV and NFC Championship Game for $6.5million guaranteed, despite any awkwardness.
Sunday served as a stark reminder about why Lance suffered his ankle injury after sustaining knee and finger injuries in a small sample of last year’s games. While the Niners hoped that such a scenario would never occur, Garoppolo provided some solace.
Ironically, Niners must count on Garoppolo staying healthy to keep in contention. The No. The number one reason the Niners moved Garoppolo from Garoppolo and Lance was Garoppolo’s inability to stay a healthy player. Garoppolo will have to make every effort to be on the field at least 15 games after Lance’s injury.
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Ross Dwelley will not be denied as he pushes across the goal line to score a touchdown in the second quarter for the 49ers.
Garoppolo could also see big changes in his bank account. Garoppolo’s reworked contract includes more than $8million in incentives that are based on performance and playing time. He receives $250,000 each game in which he has at least 25% of offensive snaps and $100,000 for every win.
Garoppolo is protected by a no-trade clause so there is zero chance that he will ever be traded. Garoppolo’s contract also includes a no-tag clause. This means that he can become an unlimited free agent after the season, and the Niners cannot prevent him from testing out the market.
It could be more important than people thought when the deal had been announced.
What happens if Garoppolo has an excellent year and the Niners reach the postseason? Lance would be able to take it over for the Niners. Are there any chances that the Niners might be willing to pay a premium for Garoppolo’s return?
These are questions that will be answered over time. However, the fact that they can be already asked tells all about this unique situation.
“It’s never about you,” Garoppolo said. It’s about winning football matches. That’s what I believe. You can talk about stats and all that, but winning football games is what we are here for. That’s what I’m trying for.”