Fans of the San Francisco 49ers seem to be split into those who root for quarterback Trey Lance and those who pull for signal-caller Brock Purdy.
The two players are seemingly competing against each other for the starting job in September, and although Purdy did very well as a rookie last year after filling in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo starting in Week 13, he himself is injured, and his status for Week 1 is unknown.
But today is Lance’s 23rd birthday, and all Niners fans should be wishing him the best on this day.
Happy birthday @treylance09! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/bpAcRujlff
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 9, 2023
Lance played only one full year of college football at North Dakota State University in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), but the Niners saw enough potential in him to trade away significant draft capital and get the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, which they used to select him.
He played in six games as a rookie, starting two, and he occasionally showed brief flashes of good play that led many to think he has a high ceiling.
Lance began last season as the starter, but a severe ankle injury in Week 2 prematurely ended his season.
If Purdy isn’t ready for Week 1, it isn’t a foregone conclusion that Lance will be under center to begin the 2023 campaign.
Some feel that in that scenario, veteran QB Sam Darnold, whom the team recently signed, would actually be the starter until Purdy has made a full recovery from elbow surgery to fix a torn UCL.
Some have also suggested that San Francisco would be best served to trade Lance, especially since the team has reportedly received multiple trade offers for him.
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