“The NFL moves quick,” said 49ers players Kyle Shanahan in response to Trey Lance’s abrupt departure.
CAPTAIN SANTA CLARA: In response to a question on Tuesday regarding the fight for the No. 2 quarterback position with the San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Shanahan stated that he most likely wouldn’t reveal the results until the club was ready to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1.
But he drew Trey Lance aside the following morning to inform him that Sam Darnold had gotten the position.
Why the abrupt change of heart?
Shanahan replied, “Because I knew it,” on Friday. “I had anticipated that it would take longer to decide.” I desired to finish the game on Friday. However, I was aware of it. And a lot of guys, I believe, knew it. And (Lance) may have had a notion. It concerned my connection with Trey more. He and I have meetings every day. Every day, I play with him on the field. I had the impression that he was beginning to feel that way. I was not going to BS him.
The events of the following two days, which culminated in Lance’s trade to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday for a fourth-round draft pick, were put in motion by that revelation.
When Shanahan announced that Lance would start as quarterback on Wednesday, he got so emotional that the 49ers allowed him to miss practice that day. Upon his arrival back at the team facilities, he informed Shanahan that while he was eager to stay with the 49ers, he would also like to see if there were any trade possibilities.
Shanahan stated that after giving it some thought, Trey returned and stated he would prefer to look for another location if at all possible. That’s when his agent and I began to investigate it.
The Cowboys were the first club to express interest, however their first proposal was not very competitive. However, on Friday, more teams joined the dialogue, it picked up speed, and the Cowboys raised their offer to a fourth-round pick. Even though that is much less than the three first-round picks and third-round pick the 49ers spent to get Lance, it was still more than many had anticipated for a player who has only started four games in the past two years, particularly this early in the season.
It did progress today, according to general manager John Lynch, “in a hurry.” “I’m not flipping around about it. Since I would have preferred for it to work out (with Lance). Furthermore, it didn’t.
Meanwhile, over the past three days, Lance’s teammates weren’t always clear what was going on.
Lance’s close buddy Brock Purdy, the starting quarterback, sensed something was wrong when he arrived at practice on Wednesday and found Lance missing. As the practice got underway, quarterbacks coach Brian Griese had to break out the scenario for Purdy and the other quarterbacks.
Lance participated in the meetings leading up to Friday’s game and went to the walkthrough session on Thursday. Additionally, Lance was supposed to play against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half until the Cowboys increased their offer. In fact, when the trade was completed, he and his 49ers teammates were in the locker room getting ready to warm up on the field.
Although the 49ers have met the Cowboys in the playoffs the past two seasons, teammates claimed Lance appeared thrilled to be starting over with them. It was unclear whether Lance was upset over losing the No. 2 quarterback competition in San Francisco. On October 8, Lance and the Cowboys will play the 49ers.
Purdy remarked, “I’m sure everyone in this locker room has his back.” “Everyone was giving him hugs and kissing him.” Naturally, it’s difficult to watch a friend go. However, we’re all delighted that “Man, he’s got a good opportunity ahead of him” at the same moment. He was also really happy.
When the media arrived in the locker room after the Chargers game, the nameplate above Lance’s locker had already been taken down. The majority of the clothing still in the stall belonged to the 49ers.
The 49ers’ third quarterback, Brandon Allen, who replaced Lance, stated he had a great time working with the 23-year-old during their one offseason together across the room.
“Trey possesses a remarkable disposition,” remarked Allen. “Yesterday, Trey was positive, just like he always is.” It was clear from speaking with him that he felt a certain way about things. If anything, I believe he ought to be thrilled about his chance to work with Dallas. Knowing him, it will serve as a springboard for him. It’s a favorable chance for him.
Complete backKyle Juszczyk reported seeing Lance on Friday morning during breakfast. However, by the time Juszczyk got to Levi’s Stadium for the game on Friday night, Lance had already left and trade rumors had already spread. Juszczyk texted well wishes to Lance.
According to Juszczyk, “the human element is the toughest part.” “We all adore Trey immensely.” He’s a fantastic guy in the locker room and a wonderful person. Still, it’s always positive to be desired. Furthermore, I believe it speaks a lot about the circumstances when someone gives up anything for him. That kind of big splash move is characteristic of the Cowboys, so it will be intriguing to see what they have planned for him.
Lance’s departure, which occurred just over five months after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract with the 49ers expired, was viewed by tight end George Kittle and Juszczyk as a depressing reminder of how rapidly things move in the NFL.
Juszczyk remarked, “I told other guys that.” “Man, the NFL moves quickly, and this is a prime illustration of that.”
Kittle stated: “College isn’t a place where guys hang out for four or five years straight. It enters and exits. Guys, you get a year.Consider Emmanuel Sanders. Joe Staley and Garrett Celek, two players who are no longer in the NFL, were my teammates during my first three years of play. It shifts really fast. It doesn’t give anyone the slow down. It simply goes on.
Juszczyk was astounded by the amount of progress the 49ers had made at quarterback in such a short amount of time. When the 49ers surprisingly re-signed Garoppolo as their backup quarterback, he was still practicing alone on a side field, and Lance was the team’s starting quarterback a year ago at this time.
Both quarterbacks are currently with different clubs, which coincidentally will play each other on Saturday in the Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders preseason finale.
Juszczyk remarked, “I feel like it would be a lot harder pill to swallow in a lot of other environments.” It hasn’t been as big of a concern, though, because I feel like there has been so much consistency and less volatility outside of the quarterback position. We’ve basically handled everything on all the other fronts.
“If you forfeit that much of draft capital and things don’t work out, you’re usually screwed. But I believe that demonstrates a great deal about our team—that is, that we aren’t. The fact that we felt comfortable starting this season with our third quarterback after being able to let go of our first two last season.
Shanahan, meanwhile, stated that he believed Lance might still develop into the quarterback the 49ers anticipated he would be when they selected him with the third overall pick in the 2021 draft. However, he was aware that Lance wouldn’t have enough opportunities to get better because Purdy would have the majority of practice repetitions while Darnold would receive the remainder.
“Trey needs a chance to play,” he remarked. He’s missed that window by a small margin both of the times he’s had those two chances here. It provided a chance for someone else to carry it out. Trey requires that once more. That wasn’t clear to him here.
