When it looked like the starting quarterback job would be Brock Purdy's to lose this offseason, the rookie quarterback suffered a serious injury in the NFC Championship Game, ending the 49ers' hopes of returning to the Super Bowl. On February 22, Purdy will undergo surgery to repair the tear of his right elbow's ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). He will miss an estimated six months.
That timeline makes Purdy available for the start of the regular season, maybe even part of training camp if his recovery goes better than expected.
That leaves Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, as the healthiest 49ers quarterback under contract. Of course, he is still recovering from the season-ending ankle injury suffered during Week 2. Lance expects to be full-go by the start of organized team activities (OTAs) in May.
Quarterback uncertainty has been an ongoing storyline with the 49ers. The team's two most experienced passers, Jimmy Garoppolo and Josh Johnson, are scheduled to become free agents. That leaves a still inexperienced Lance and a recovering Purdy as the featured names in the latest chapter of the quarterback drama.
That has NFL.com's Dan Hanzus intrigued. In his recent post-Super Bowl power ranking, Hanzus listed the 49ers as the fourth-best team in the league, with only the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals ranked higher.
"Another offseason with intrigue at the quarterback position in San Francisco," wrote Hanzus. "Brock Purdy was a revelation during his scorching run to the NFC title game, but a serious elbow injury puts his summer availability in doubt. Purdy's misfortune seems to have opened up a huge window of opportunity for Trey Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick currently in line to gobble up first-team reps throughout the offseason program.
"We could be headed toward a true training camp competition between the young passers after Jimmy Garoppolo finds a new home in free agency. Never a dull QB moment by the Bay."
Indeed.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers have strong reason to keep Mac Jones after watching NFL injury situation
The San Francisco 49ers aren't the only NFL team dealing with injuries this season. Four starting quarterbacks have already been sidelined through the first two weeks of the 2026 season. The latest is New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who is believed to have suffered an... -
49ers in Week 2 power rankings: San Francisco soars after big win over Rams
The San Francisco 49ers opened their 2026 NFL campaign with a statement win over a division rival. San Francisco traveled to Melbourne, Australia, and secured a convincing 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams. It was a significant win for the 49ers, who entered Week 1 as... -
49ers in Week 3 power rankings: 'Might be the most complete team in football'
The San Francisco 49ers continued to impress with a 35-13 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, improving to 2-0 on the season. Even Brock Purdy's harshest critics are running out of reasons to downplay the quarterback's success. Purdy was nearly flawless against the... -
49ers use first-round pick on tight end in 2027 NFL mock draft
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle played 30 snaps last week against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. The All-Pro recorded two receptions for 12 yards on five targets in his return from an Achilles injury suffered in January. With just one week of NFL...