With about three months to go before the start of the 2023 regular season, the San Francisco 49ers still don’t know who they will start at quarterback for Week 1.
They’re hopeful that Brock Purdy, their incumbent starter, will be ready for their first game, which will be at the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it isn’t a certainty.
While Purdy has been recovering from surgery to repair a torn UCL in his throwing elbow, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold have been splitting first-team duties under center at OTAs.
There has been word that Lance has looked better this offseason, and it’s something tight end George Kittle acknowledged, per David Lombardi.
George Kittle on Trey Lance: "I'm not going to lie to you guys, he looks significantly better than last year."
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) June 6, 2023
According to multiple reports, Lance put in some serious work this offseason, and he even worked out with Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes, a two-time Super Bowl champion who is generally regarded as the best QB in the game today.
Lance has improved his throwing motion and mechanics, and it has resulted in him throwing a tighter spiral than he did in his first two pro seasons.
The North Dakota State University product suffered a finger injury during the 2021 preseason that may have negatively impacted his throwing form, but it appears that injury is now in the rearview mirror for him.
Other than the quarterback position, the 49ers look like a team that could be on a collision course with the Super Bowl championship.
Their defense, which was the NFL’s best in 2022, could be even better this fall and winter, and they will also benefit from a full offseason and training camp with star running back Christian McCaffrey.
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