The 49ers didn’t make any major changes in the backup quarterback battle following Sunday’s preseason opener.
Sam Darnold had a more successful three series than Trey Lance’s six series, but the sample size was small and head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that Lance got better as the game went on.
In Wednesday’s practice it was still Darnold and Lance dividing up the second and third-team reps, with Darnold receiving a few more total reps (16) than Lance (12) per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
Shanahan after Wednesday’s practice indicated the team’s plan under center for their second preseason game will likely follow the opposite path to the one they took Sunday. In that case Darnold would get the first half with Lance taking over in the second half.
Things still appear to be even given the way the 49ers coaching staff is treating the backup QB battle, and that makes sense if they believe Lance will get more comfortable with more playing time. What they’ll need to see regardless of when he plays though is improvement.
Shanahan indicated he wants to see Lance be more aggressive and to make the throws when the windows come open. A lack of aggressiveness was a significant source of Lance’s issues in the opener. If he can make that adjustment in the second game it would further justify the neck-and-neck race Lance and Darnold appear to be in for the backup job.
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