Trey Lance Injury Updates | Shark Bites

49ers QB Brock Purdy reportedly received all of the first-team reps in 7-on-7 drills at practice on Thursday. Purdy hasn't thrown in a public setting with the team since sustaining a UCL injury in the NFC Championship vs. the Eagles that required surgery in March. QBs Trey Lance and Sam Darnold split reps as the QB2 in practice as well. The position battle between Purdy and Lance for the starting job in San Francisco will carry significant ramifications for fantasy managers this season, and to see Purdy work as the starter upon return is notable. It's still early yet, though a smattering of offseason quotes from GM John Lynch and others indicate this is Purdy's job to lose. Keep up with us here at Draft Sharks as we learn more about this battle over the course of training camp.

Niners HC Kyle Shanahan says the team expects to have QB Brock Purdy back from his right elbow injury by training camp, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic. Purdy has reportedly "been making throwing motions with a towel," though there's no word on his accuracy in hitting the hamper. He's expected to begin throwing footballs in June. We'll see whether Purdy's return to action pushes a Trey Lance trade.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan stated on Tuesday that he anticipates having QBs Trey Lance and Sam Darnold split first-team reps in practice this offseason, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic. This comment comes on the heels of reports that QB Brock Purdy is the "leader of the clubhouse" in San Francisco, suggesting that Lance's standing on the depth chart is in serious jeopardy. Dynasty managers who roster Lance probably aren't feeling too great right now. There was always a level of understanding that Lance would be a developmental project, especially coming into the NFL with little starting experience at an FCS-level college program at North Dakota State. But now, two years into his career, Lance has four starts under his belt, a severe ankle injury on the mend, and Purdy seems poised to be the starter once he recovers from the elbow injury he sustained in the NFC title game vs. the Eagles. So it wouldn't be fair to characterize Lance as a bust. We don't have enough evidence to suggest he can't be a starter for an NFL team. What we do know, however, is that the odds of that team being the 49ers are beginning to dwindle. Those who feel confident in Lance's potential are looking at a solid buy-low window right now, but it would be best not to be super aggressive in trying to acquire him. We're into some pretty muddy waters with this situation. We'll be sure to keep an eye on this storyline as the spring and summer unfold.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers have reached a one-year deal with QB Sam Darnold. The quick signing tells us that San Francisco isn't sure QB Brock Purdy will be ready for the regular season. If the 49ers did expect Purdy's repaired right arm to be all good, then there would seem little reason for them to prioritize a third QB on the open market and little reason for Darnold to sign so quickly. Why settle for a locked-in No. 3 role on the first day of "legal tampering" rather than wait to see what other QB-needier teams might say. Of course, we're betting Trey Lance will open the year as the starter. The fact that Lance remains unproven heading into his third year -- and is coming off his own serious injury -- enhances the upside for Darnold. In addition to Purdy, HC Kyle Shanahan's offense has helped QBs Jimmy Garoppolo, C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens generate good efficiency. Darnold would be interesting for fantasy if pressed into duty. That makes him stashable in deeper dynasty leagues.

49ers QB Brock Purdy's elbow surgery was originally scheduled for February 22 but has been delayed due to swelling in the joint. “Some of the delay and the swelling and all that — it’s not like a typical baseball injury,” GM John Lynch said Tuesday at the Combine. “This was a football injury where there was a lot of force there. So, it just all had to quiet down.” Purdy is now expected to go under the knife "early next week," according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. The 49ers are still hoping to have Purdy back on the field 6 months after surgery, but Lynch admitted that there are “a variety of time frames.” Either way, this delay makes it unlikely that Purdy is available for training camp -- and more likely that QB Trey Lance opens the 2023 season as San Francisco's starter.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero confirms that 49ers QB Trey Lance will miss the rest of the 2022 season after undergoing ankle surgery on Monday morning. Lance suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle, Pelissero reports. It's similar although slightly less severe than the injury Cowboys QB Dak Prescott suffered in October 2020. Prescott was fully cleared for the start of training the following summer and played Week 1, but it's worth remember that he set a career-low in rushing yards per game in 2021. We'll monitor Lance's rehab and hope he quickly regains his mobility.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports 49ers QB Trey Lance suffered a "significant" right ankle injury in the Week 2 win over the Seahawks. Lance is expected to need surgery that will "likely" end his season. You can hang on to him on fantasy rosters until we get official confirmation that Lance's season is over, which figures to come tomorrow. San Francisco will turn back to QB Jimmy Garoppolo, which will mean a significant shift in the offense. The 49ers' pass rate will climb, and there will be more carries to go around since Garoppolo won't be taking many.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that 49ers (still) QB Jimmy Garoppolo recently had a checkup with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and is "progressing well." Rapport added that the Niners are "thrilled with where he is physically." Garoppolo has reportedly been throwing for about 4 weeks and is expected to gain full clearance to return from his right-shoulder injury in mid-August. We'll see whether this is enough to jumpstart the QB's trade market.

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) is expected to play vs. the Rams on Sunday, according to insider Matt Maiocco. It sounds like Maiocco is basing that off the fact that San Francisco did not elevate QB Nate Sudfeld from the practice squad, rather than information from a source. Still, fantasy owners should now be operating under the assumption that it'll be Garoppolo under center. He'd be a risky fantasy start playing through an injury to his throwing thumb.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo has a torn UCL along with a fracture in his right thumb. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport calls the latter injury a "chipped bone" and adds that Garoppolo is "going to try to gut it out, somehow" vs. the Texans on Sunday. We'll see how this week goes, but for now, we're expecting QB Trey Lance to get the Week 17 start. Lance's rushing ability gives him fantasy upside -- but he'd be a downgrade for Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle.

Niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo sat out Monday's practice with a right thumb injury he's believed to have sustained early in Thursday night's game at Tennessee, according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury. Garoppolo completed that game, so we'll see whether this issue affects his Week 17 status or if the team is just opening a long practice week in cautious fashion.

Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that it's thought to be "a more significant injury" than a right thumb sprain. We'll see how this week goes for him.

49ers QB Trey Lance (knee) is not listed on the final injury report and will return for Sunday's game against the Bears. QB Jimmy Garoppolo will start, but Lance could steal a handful of snaps.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan was rather unenthusiastic when asked whether QB Jimmy Garoppolo will remain his starter in Week 8. “I would guess so," Shanahan said. "We had two QBs hurting this week. Jimmy was able to come back and play. We'll see if Trey [Lance] can next week, we're still not sure yet, but I got a lot of things to figure out.” Garoppolo mustered just 181 passing yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs in Sunday night's loss to the Colts -- although, in his defense, the game was played in messy weather. Regardless, expect to see Lance back under center for San Francisco at some point this season. We'll see when rookie is ready to return from his knee injury.

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo (calf) is off the final injury report and will start Sunday night's game against the Colts. QB Trey Lance has been ruled out with his knee injury, so he won't vulture any snaps from Garoppolo.

Niners HC Kyle Shanahan said Monday that QB Trey Lance has a sprained left knee. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports that Lance said he didn't know when the injury occurred and didn't feel it until he went to bed Sunday night. San Francisco has a Week 6 bye, but Barrows reports he's "questionable" for the Week 7 game against the Colts. With Jimmy Garropolo likely ready to return from his calf injury, we'd bet on the veteran reclaiming his job in Week 7. We'll see as the game draws closer.