49ers' Trey Lance reacts to losing first-string reps to Brock Purdy

Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers is staying positive even though he's lost first-string quarterback duties to 2022 rookie sensation Brock Purdy. 

"Just taking it one day at a time," Lance told reporters on Friday, as shared by David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I'm very present-mind focused. Every rep, one rep at a time, one day at a time, one meeting at a time. Whatever it is, I truly believe everything works out exactly how it's supposed to. So as long as I control what I can control, that's all I can worry about."

Lance entered training camp last summer comfortably atop the depth chart but then suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. That development coupled with Jimmy Garoppolo going down with a broken left foot in December opened the door for Purdy, who won all five of his regular-season starts and then guided the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game before he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during that contest. 

Purdy was cleared to participate in practices before camp kicked off and is unofficially preparing to start the Week 1 matchup at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10. As for Lance, the 2021 first-round draft pick still has just four career regular-season starts on his NFL résumé and may spend the preseason attempting to impress would-be suitors after there reportedly "was no trade market" for his services this offseason. 

"The game has slowed down a lot," Lance said about where he is now compared to where he was two Julys ago. "Just going to continue to get better, though. ... It's more my feet, honestly, than anything from the last couple of years. But, yeah, I don't find myself liking to watch the mechanics side of the last couple of years' reps. I feel like I'm in a much, much better place now, for sure."

Purdy underwent surgery on March 10 and remains on a "pitch count," meaning he hasn't yet been fully cleared to face a live defense. For now, Lance must concentrate on beating free-agency signing Sam Darnold in a competition for the QB2 gig while knowing that either man could become the team's starter if Purdy experiences a setback at any time.