According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the San Francisco 49ers are naming Sam Darnold as their primary backup quarterback to starter Brock Purdy.
#49ers QB Sam Darnold was named the team's No. 2 QB, per me and @TomPelissero. He'll be the backup to Brock Purdy to begin the season.
This further puts the future of former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance in some doubt. pic.twitter.com/ig7PVp4lgn
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 23, 2023
Pelissero furthered, sharing that the 49ers are looking into trade options for quarterback Trey Lance, as his future with the team is currently unknown after being named the third-string quarterback behind Darnold and Purdy.
The #49ers are naming Sam Darnold their No. 2 quarterback and the team is exploring options with Trey Lance, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Darnold will back up Brock Purdy, while the future of Lance — the No. 3 overall pick in 2021 — is unclear. pic.twitter.com/HxXQkfM6nq
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 23, 2023
"Trey Lance has had a good camp and preseason, showing growth in his game," Pelissero tweeted. "But Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold are atop the depth chart for a 49ers team that should be a contender, and trading Lance is one possible solution."
Lance and Darnold had been competing throughout the offseason for the backup role to Brock Purdy, who was seen as the immediate starter upon being fully recovered to practice by doctors.
The two backup quarterbacks had consistently alternated reps in training camp, which carried over to the preseason, where Lance earned two quarters in the first preseason bout, while Darnold earned two quarters in the 49ers' win over the Broncos last Saturday.
It's currently unclear whether the 49ers will be able to facilitate a trade for Lance, given the timing of the report from Rapoport and Pelissero, as the season is less than three weeks away from starting.
Earlier this week, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that he would name a backup ahead of the team's Week 1 bout against the Pittsburgh Steelers but didn't believe an announcement would come before then.
"I'll probably announce it before we play Pittsburgh, but not this game," Shanahan said earlier this week.
However, that appears to have changed, as the 49ers have finalized their thoughts on the backup competition and are ready to name Darnold the No. 2 option.
Could the role alternate week-to-week? Shanahan hinted at that idea, depending on what team the quarterback plays and which option would be better suited for the scout team.
"This is NFL, so you think about how to get your team ready to win that week," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters before Tuesday's practice. "And most of that has to do with who's best for our defense, who gets them the right look, and prepares our team the best way for what they're about to face on Sunday. And after that, you try to get everyone reps because you only get better with reps."
But, for now, it's set: Sam Darnold is your backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.