The only question surrounding the San Francisco 49ers is who will start at quarterback come Week 1 of the 2023 season.
Their starting starter, Brock Purdy, is recovering from a torn ACL in his pitching elbow, and could be on track to be ready for Week 1.
But if he’s not, the low-center starter for the start of the season will have to be either Trey Lance, who began 2022 as his starter, or free-agent signing Sam Darnold.
Some have felt that, regardless, Lance or even Darnold should be permanent starters at QB for San Francisco.
But The Athletic’s David Lombardi feels the team and its fans should let things unfold organically rather than prematurely project one man to start.
Training camp hasn’t started yet, but people are talking about the 49ers QB situation like we’re in 3 weeks. This situation will play out organically when the practices actually happen and most of the forced takes are out right now at the end of June. It probably won’t look very good…
—David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) June 27, 2023
Purdy, the last player taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, started last season third on the depth chart, but injuries to Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo forced him into a starting role in Week 13, and he did a job great from then on.
Lance is entering his third season, and while he hasn’t played much thus far, he has shown some brief flashes of promise.
Darnold, on the other hand, has been a perpetual disappointment since he was the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft, completing just 59.7 percent of his passes while throwing nearly as many interceptions (55) as touchdown passes (61). ) in his professional career.
If the 49ers just figure out their quarterback situation and get Pro Bowl-level production there, they could be on their way to their sixth Super Bowl championship this winter.
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49ers Insider offers a hopeful Brock Purdy timeline
