This past spring, the San Francisco 49ers traded up in the first round, using a great deal of draft capital in the process, for Trey Lance to eventually replace Jimmy Garoppolo.
In his first NFL start, however, it seems the 49ers wanted Lance to be Garoppolo.
The rookie quarterback turned in an uneven performance in Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, completing 15 of 29 passes for 192 yards and an interception. Lance was also San Francisco’s leading rusher on the afternoon, with 16 carries for 89 yards. In the results-based business that is the NFL, the loss is perhaps the biggest takeaway from the game, beyond Lance’s performance.
And in a world where success is expected immediately, there are some disappointed San Francisco fans this Monday.
Still, there are positives to take from Lance’s performance, as well as some areas of potential improvement. Let’s dive into both.