The San Francisco 49ers have tabbed Sam Darnold as their backup quarterback over former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance.
Brock Purdy is the team’s starter, and it could be Brandon Allen, not Lance, at No. 3.
Lance, 23, was not at the portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday when Darnold worked behind only Purdy in 11-on-11 drills.
Lance entered the 2022 season as the 49ers quarterback of the future before fracturing his tibia in the second game of the season. The injury, which included ligament damage, required two surgeries, the second to remove hardware from the first that was causing irritation in his ankle.
Jimmy Garoppolo replaced Lance but suffered a broken left foot in Week 13, leading to the emergence of the wunderkind Purdy.
The 49ers signed Darnold, the 2018 draft’s No. 3 overall pick, as a free agent in March. The 26-year-old has had a strong showing during the offseason.
Lance could be made available via trade, but his salary isn’t conducive to a deal. NFL Network reported the 49ers were “exploring options” with Lance.
Lance is set to count $9.3 million against the Niners’ salary cap this season. Further, the team moved from No. 12 in a trade with the Miami Dolphins to draft Lance No. 3 in the 2021 draft. That cost the 49ers three first-round picks in 2021, ‘22 and ’23 in addition to a third-rounder in ’22.
Lance appeared in just eight games (four starts) over his first two seasons, completing 56 of 102 passes for 797 yards, with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Darnold lost a competition with Baker Mayfield to start for the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and was on the shelf with an ankle injury most of last season. He was traded to the Panthers from the New York Jets.
Darnold started six games in 2022 upon his return from injury, throwing for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
In 56 career games (55 starts) with the Panthers and Jets, Darnold is 1054-1765 and has thrown for 11,767 yards, 61 TDs and 55 INTs. He has also scored 12 rushing touchdowns.