The San Francisco 49ers will be without starting quarterback Trey Lance for the remainder of the season. Lance, last year’s third overall pick, broke his ankle in Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks and will have to undergo season-ending surgery.
Lance got injured inside the final three minutes of the first quarter. He attempted a run on a second-down play but only got two yards before being tackled by two Seahawks defenders. The 22-year-old landed awkwardly as a result of the tackle and was unable to get up by himself. He was later carted off the field and was seen with an air cast.
Speaking after the game, which the 49ers won 27-7, the 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Lance has a broken ankle and will need to undergo a procedure to repair it.
“It’s always tough, especially when it’s a big one like that,” Shanahan told the reporters. “You feel for someone so bad. It’s sad, but you don’t have time to sit there and think about it. You’ve got to get right back to the game, and the guys did a real good job of that. I’m really happy about the win, but it’s a little somber once you get in the locker room.”
The 2022 NFL season was supposed to be the first for Lance as a full-time started at QB. Before going down with the injury, he completed 15 out of 31 passes attempted while throwing for 194 yards and an interception. He also had 67 yards on the ground.
Despite losing Lance, the 49ers remain in a good position to compete in the NFC thanks to their decision to keep the last year’s starter Jimmy Garoppolo as a backup. With Garoppolo under center, San Francisco played in the Super Bowl in 2019 and reached NFC Championship Game last season.
