Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Shanahan explains the absence of Trey Lance during 49ers-Eagles
Sep 20, 2021 at 4:42 PM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
After playing four snaps in the San Francisco 49ers' Week 1 victory over the Detroit Lions, many expected rookie quarterback Trey Lance's role to increase in Week 2. Instead, Lance remained on the sideline for the entirety of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The lack of playing time made headlines, but head coach Kyle Shanahan has said the rookie's role would be dependant on the game plan.
It doesn't seem like Shanahan wants to play Lance just to play him. That, of course, has led some to wonder if the 49ers are properly handling the development of the rookie.
Shanahan insists he doesn't enter games with a set number of plays that feature Jimmy Garoppolo's athletic backup.
"No, I never have a plan that, 'Hey, I'm going to use him, or I'm not going to use him,'" Shanahan said today during a conference call. "It's always an option throughout the game. It's been two games, and I've never had him in the openers, and I've never had him as a designated time. I plan on doing that week-to-week and whenever I feel like putting him in. You saw when I did in Week 1, and I never got that urge in Week 2."
One of Lance's four plays against the Lions was at the end of a Garoppolo-led drive. The rookie tossed a touchdown to wide receiver Trent Sherfield. Garoppolo congratulated Lance on the sideline, and that grabbed the attention of broadcast announcer Mark Sanchez.
"That's not an easy hug to give," Sanchez said on-air while praising Garoppolo for how he has handled the whole situation. Lance, after all, is his eventual successor.
Garoppolo was asked about Sanchez's comments last week. His response was very honest.
"He's not wrong,"
Garoppolo said while laughing. "No, [it's an] it-is-what-it-is type of situation. It's one of those [situations where] we had a good drive, marched down there, Kyle called the package, and he's the head coach, so whatever he calls, goes.
"It's just one of those things that you can only control what you can control. And I'm out there with my boys, making the best of it, having a good time. And at the end of the day, we're playing football, trying to get a win. So, whatever it takes. But it is what it is, you know?"
Who knows if we will see Lance on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. But, if we do, it will likely be because Shanahan feels certain plays featuring him can better attack the opposing defense. It won't be just because he wants to give the young quarterback valuable reps.
"[Y]ou don't really make decisions based off your team of just putting a guy in totally just for how that is for him in the future," Shanahan said. "I think that'd be irresponsible to everybody else in the room. You do it if you think it gives you a chance based off of what's going on in that game, that game only.
"In the meantime, yeah, it's nice for a guy to get out there. But if it wasn't because he was bringing a different element that we thought could help us with something that we're going against, there's no other reason that we would do it."
Related News
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers vs. Giants: Kyle Shanahan hilariously explains chaos of a short NFL week
NFL teams do not like Thursday night games. More precisely, they don't like the short week of preparation for those games. It's a mess for players and coaches. The San Francisco 49ers will host the New York Giants at Levi's Stadium on Thursday, just four days after beating the Los Angeles Rams.
Players had Monday off. On Tuesday, the 49ers will forego their normal full practice, replacing it with two lighter walkthroughs.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about the problems a short week creates. He offered a pretty humorous but honest answer.
"You feel extremely rushed," Shanahan told reporters during his Tuesday press conference. "I saw the players a few hours ago, and
49ers-Giants: Trent Williams calls punch of A'Shawn Robinson a 'love tap'; Official explains why Williams wasn't ejected
Those who watched Thursday night's game between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants may want to know why no ejections took place after 49ers left tackle Trent Williams punched the face mask of Giants defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson as the first half came to a close.
NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Walt Anderson gave an explanation behind that decision after the game, while Williams played his punch off as a "love tap."
The incident took place towards the end of the first half of the 49ers' 30-12 win over the Giants, following a play where the 49ers downed the ball. Robinson can be seen giving Williams a poke in the chin, after which Williams swung and hit Robinson in the face
Kyle Shanahan provides injury updates on Brandon Aiyuk, others after 49ers beat Rams
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters after the team's 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. He provided injury updates from the game.
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was in and out of the game due to a left shoulder injury. A reporter asked if the coach was concerned that the injury could be serious.
"I wouldn't think so," Shanahan responded. "I mean, I know he was hurting a little bit, but he was able to play through it, so I think I'll be all right."
The coach mentioned two other players in his post-game injury report.
"[CB Ambry] Thomas, he had a knee," Shanahan said. "He was in and out. After that, [CB Deommodore
49ers injury news: Deebo Samuel avoids serious injury, other updates from Kyle Shanahan
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan jumped on a conference call with reporters on Friday afternoon, the day after the team's 30-12 win over the New York Giants. Shanahan provided several injury updates.
Linebackers Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Dre Greenlaw emerged from Thursday night's game with low-ankle sprains. Both are day-to-day. The good news is that players have some extra time off before returning to work on Monday, when the 49ers begin preparing for the Arizona Cardinals.
The only other player who was banged up in the Week 3 contest is wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The 49ers initially feared a rib injury, but
