Trey Lance and Sam Darnold were among the NFL quarterbacks throwing at Tight End University last month. It was an opportunity for the San Francisco 49ers passers to get some extra work this offseason while helping their teammate and TEU co-founder George Kittle.
There has been a lot of discussion surrounding the 49ers' quarterback situation this offseason. The topic has dominated the news cycles, and understandably so. The team has struggled to solidify the position during head coach Kyle Shanahan's time as head coach.
Last season, rookie Brock Purdy emerged as the surprise young player on the roster, stepping in for an injured Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. He helmed the 49ers offense during the win streak that ended in the NFC Championship Game. That's when Purdy suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing arm, making him ineffective in the game and costing the 49ers a potential return trip to the Super Bowl.
With Purdy sidelined, Lance and Darnold are taking most of the offseason reps, competing for the QB2 job. One might even get the Week 1 start if Purdy isn't cleared in time for the start of the regular season.
"I'm in a great spot physically, mentally. I'm just excited for this year," Lance told NBC Sports Bay Area at TEU.
Lance has started only four games in his two NFL seasons. The former No. 3 overall pick played through a finger injury in his first two starts and monsoon-like conditions in his third before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in his fourth. Now healthy, Lance is looking to turn things around.
"I like to play. That's kind of why I came here (to TEU)," Lance said. "So it's definitely hard when I don't get that opportunity, and last year was part of it. Just bump in the road, and I'll be better for it."
While Lance is in his third offseason of absorbing Shanahan's playbook and system, Darnold has only had a few months to do so. San Francisco signed the veteran quarterback, also a former No. 3 overall pick, as a free agent in March.
"Yeah, it's been a work in progress," Darnold told NBC Sports Bay Area. "I thought I got better throughout camp and just got more comfortable with the system, so still got to study and go through the process of continuing to learn the system. But I'm excited for it, and it's been really fun so far."
What does Darnold have planned for the weeks leading to training camp?
He responded, "These last couple of weeks, I've been doing [physical therapy], working out a little bit. But going to start ramping it up here this next week and get going so I'm ready for camp."
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