The San Francisco 49ers are entrenched in a quarterback controversy once again, as starter Brock Purdy has been sidelined all offseason due to a torn UCL sustained in the NFC Championship Game, leaving backups Trey Lance and Sam Darnold in a competition, perhaps even for a starting role.
Darnold and Lance recently split first-team reps during the 49ers' minicamp last weekend in an effort to see if one player can distinguish himself as the clear No. 2 option.
However, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch indicated during various media interviews recently that the starting job could be available, especially if Purdy isn't ready to return for Week 1.
What's the latest on the quarterback debacle?
Speaking on Sportscenter Sunday, ESPN's Jeff Darlington shared the latest on what he's heard about the 49ers' quarterback situation, tempering expectations on any potential change at the position.
"We have a situation where Trey Lance has gotten a lot of first-team reps but so too has Sam Darnold at times," Darlington said. "I haven't gotten the sense talking to anybody in San Francisco that either Darnold or Lance has done enough necessarily to hold off Purdy when he does come back."
Purdy's recovery has been the biggest question of the offseason, but Shanahan has shared recent optimism that the former seventh-rounder would be ready for the beginning of the season.
Darlington spoke on the unfortunate situation that Lance has been thrown into, as the quarterback wasn't healthy for the first two seasons of his career, which opened the door for Purdy to shine with the 49ers looking for a reliable option at the position.
Training camp could change the tone for the 49ers, but it appears that Purdy will take over the reigns, should he prove to be healthy to practice before the beginning of the season.