What did the 49ers’ quarterback Trey Lance have to say about trade rumors?
With the situation between the team and their QB becoming more unclear, it was only a matter of time before he had to address the doubts about his future.
Where the quarterback is concerned, it would be safe to say that the 49ers’ last campaign presented its share of challenges. From a season ending injury to their starter, to a similar situation with their backup and then finally one that derailed their third-string rookie who had just started to come good. No matter how you cut it, the 49ers have a problem brewing under center.
Trey Lance talks about trade rumors
As far as we can tell, the San Francisco 49ers don’t seem to be sold on Trey Lance returning as the starting quarterback for the upcoming season. According to reports, there are doubts surrounding the former No. 3 overall pick due to the fact that he sat out almost the entire 2022 season because of injury. Adding further fuel to the fire, is the fact that the Niners have reportedly been taking calls from other teams in the league about Lance’s availability. Indeed, it’s understood that a possible trade was discussed with the Vikings during the scouting combine.
To that end, Lance himself finally gave comment on the intense speculation that has begun to swirl around the topic of his future with the team. Speaking on Saturday, it seemed to be more about what he didn’t say rather than what he did as he briefly discussed the topic. “I got no comment on that,” he said when asked about possible trade talks. “I have no information.” What’s interesting to note here, is that it’s safe to assume that Lance is “certainly aware” of the ongoing rumors as evidenced by comments from a recent interview which took place at North Dakota State’s football complex. On the other hand, we have to draw attention to the fact that Lance openly admits he’s in the dark. His “I have no information” comment doesn’t remove the possibility that the franchise is actively looking to offload him, but rather indicates he doesn’t know if that’s the case.
Recovery is what Trey Lance is focused on, but there’s a catch
Though his future is clearly uncertain, Lance continues to focus on what he can control i.e., his recovery from the ankle injury that limited him to just two appearances during the last season. “I’m all cleared, so I’m good to go,” he said. “I got cleared a little over a month ago so I’m feeling really good and (ready to) get back to work. ...Last year I played the one game in Chicago and then got hurt, so it was kind of over before it even got started. But I am just excited for this year. This offseason, (I’m) just focusing on getting better. Focusing on getting these guys better in the locker room and just being a great teammate, a great leader.”
Of course, Lance must also face the prospect of competition for his place. You may recall that after his injury, the 49ers had the misfortune to also see backup QB, Jimmy Garoppolo, suffer a season ending injury. That of course led to third-string signal caller and rookie, Brock Purdy, taking the reins and impressively so. Indeed, Purdy’s surprise run of form saw him lead the 49ers all the way to the NFC title game, but it was there that he suffered an injury of his own which he is still recovering from. To that end the team only has the recently signed Sam Darnold as a fully fit QB. Watch this space as there are sure to be some surprise decisions.