Assuming Trey Lance is available for Week 1, the Detroit Lions have a tough task preparing for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. While Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be the starter, the No. 3 overall pick could see the field. Again, assuming he is healthy.
Lance suffered a chipped bone in his finger on August 29 during the 49ers' preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. As a result, he has been limited during practices and hasn't been allowed to throw footballs. That was again the case during today's practice. The team's next practice is scheduled for Wednesday, as the real prep work for the Lions kicks off.
Against the Raiders, the 49ers repeatedly swapped between Garoppolo and Lance during the first two drives, causing some confusion for the opposing defense. Garoppolo and Lance each scored rushing touchdowns during those drives—Garoppolo in the first and Lance in the second.
Adding that to the exhibition game plan added to the Lions' prep work this week. Maybe that was the point.
"It'll be interesting to see what happens with that," center Alex Mack told reporters today.
Indeed. Reporters and fans alike are very interested to see how the 49ers use their very different quarterbacks in Week 1. Garoppolo has a solid grasp of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, but Lance provides a different level of athleticism that drastically changes how a team might defend against the 49es offense.
"That's the whole game, isn't it?" Mack added.
One reporter added that the Lions are probably interested in what Mack and others think about the 49ers' game plan, whatever it might be.
"Exactly. Let's keep it that way," Mack commented.
Detroit is planning for both quarterbacks. Not knowing what to expect, they have no choice but to do so.
"I think you've got to prepare for both," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said today, per Lions Wire. "You have to assume that they may try to mix (Lance) in there and use him a little bit. We'll make sure that we've taken care of some of that."
The 49ers and Lions kick off from Ford Field on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET).