On Monday, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance, the team's expected starter in 2022, received some good news from his general manager, John Lynch. It sounds like the 49ers' seven-time Pro Bowl center, Alex Mack, will return to the team. Many questioned whether Mack, who is 36 years old, would call it a career and retire. However, it sounds like the veteran offensive lineman plans to return.
"He's training like he's coming back," Lynch said via Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "I won't speak for him, but all signs are him coming back and being a part of us."
No surprise but sounds very unlikely DE Dee Ford will be back with #49ers next season. GM John Lynch: "I don't see a lot of hope in him being a factor for us on the field moving forward." Ford's back injury just hasn't progressed to give Niners belief a return is possible.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) March 28, 2022
Mack, a former No. 21 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2009, has started all 196 career game appearances. He has started the entire season 11 times over his career, including his 2021 campaign with the 49ers.
San Francisco lost Pro Bowl guard Laken Tomlinson, who signed with the New York Jets during free agency. Tackle Mike McGlinchey is coming off a torn quad injury.
"He had a significant surgery to repair that quad tendon," Lynch said earlier this month of McGlinchey. "But just as Mike has always done, he attacks everything 100 percent, and his rehab is going really well."