Lance has knee sprain

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.

If there was any remaining doubt as to who will be the 49ers' starting QB this season, HC Kyle Shanahan put that to rest on Tuesday. "We have moved on to Trey Lance," Shanahan said. "This is Trey's team." QB Jimmy Garoppolo remains on the roster as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but the 'Niners are hoping to trade Garoppolo "as soon as we can," Shanahan added. Lance remains mostly an unknown as a passer. But he's in a favorable scheme with strong weapons. Throw in his high-end rushing upside and he's an attractive target at his QB13 ADP.

NFL Network's Peter Schrager is hearing from 49ers players that QB Trey Lance has been "awesome this offseason." Reports on Lance's progress were lukewarm at best early this offseason, but it sounds like he's building momentum. "Everything I'm hearing out of the Bay Area is that there has been major strides heading into year number two. Jimmy [Garoppolo]'s not there, and he's kind of been off the radar. Trey Lance is [there]. I'm getting more and more of a feeling this is Trey Lance's team, and he's ready to go." With elite rushing ability and a strong group of pass-catchers in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, Lance carries a lofty fantasy ceiling in 2022.

Niners TE George Kittle said this week that QB Trey Lance appears to be taking over the offense. “I definitely think he’s taken ownership, for sure,” Kittle said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “You can kind of tell that in meetings, he’ll talk. He’s assuming responsibility. … He’s letting his personality show a little bit. And he’s going to be out there slinging the rock around.” Jimmy Garoppolo remains on the San Francisco roster, but we'll be surprised if Lance isn't the Week 1 starter. The current uncertainty is keeping Lance outside the top 12 at QB in best-ball drafting.

Matt Barrows of The Athletic describes the “blockers in front of [Trey] Lance” as “question marks.” The real issue is along the interior, where nobody’s locked into a starting spot. Of note: C Alex Mack, 36, is questionable to return for another season. And reliable RG Laken Tomlinson signed with the Jets in free agency. The 49ers used a mid-round pick on UTSA OT/OG Spencer Burford, but he’s unlikely to make a year 1 impact. Lance remains a fringe QB1 with a wide range of outcomes.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler hears that the 49ers are still planning to start QB Trey Lance this season. QB Jimmy Garoppolo remains of the roster as of now, at least in part because he's still recovering from shoulder surgery. "I'm told that [Lance has] gotten indications, at least informal indications from the team, that he'll be the guy next year. He's set to be that," Fowler said. "Now, whether that means that they would still keep Garoppolo and that could change the dynamic, possibly. But right now, Lance is going to be the starter." We're comfortable drafting as if Lance will be under center for San Francisco this year. And his ADP has actually sunk to QB13 recently, making him a nice value.