Analyst offers brutal assessment of Trey Lance

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance. Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Analyst offers brutal assessment of 49ers' Trey Lance

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/14/23

Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky clearly was left unimpressed by the play of San Francisco 49ers signal-caller Trey Lance in Sunday's preseason opener at the Las Vegas Raiders.

"I don't think Trey Lance can play in (49ers head coach) Kyle Shanahan's offense," Orlovsky said during Monday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up" program, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I just — I've seen enough. One, he doesn't have enough reps playing football. That's a reality...The ball doesn't come out quick enough for Trey right now."

Lance, a 2021 first-round draft pick, spent the majority of his debut pro season as a backup and then suffered a campaign-ending ankle injury in Week 2 last September. Meanwhile, Brock Purdy ultimately became a rookie sensation beginning this past December and is seemingly cemented atop the depth chart as San Francisco's QB1.

As for Lance, it was reported earlier this summer that "there was no trade market" for his services this offseason, and it's believed the 49ers hope he can bolster his value to other clubs via impressive preseason performances.

While the 23-year-old completed 10-of-15 pass attempts for 112 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders on Sunday, that score was more the result of a lucky break than it was a highlight-reel play for the third-year pro. Lance also took four sacks in the 34-7 loss at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.

"And I think that, after watching yesterday, he's so much more comfortable as an under-center quarterback than a shotgun quarterback," Orlovsky said about Lance. "But Kyle's offense has really become a shotgun offense. It's become ball distribution. It's become play point guard. It's become get it out quickly. And that's just not where Trey is right now."

Lance is competing this month with free-agency signing Sam Darnold for the right to serve as Purdy's primary backup. As noted by The Mercury News (h/t NJ Advance Media for NJ.com), Shanahan told reporters he thought Darnold "did a great job" after the veteran completed five-of-eight passes for 84 yards on Sunday.

"I just don't think he can play in Kyle Shanahan's offense," Orlovsky added about Lance. "He should have thrown two interceptions (against the Raiders). The ball gets held so long for him right now, and it hasn't gotten better in the three years that he's been in the NFL."

Lance still has just four regular-season starts on his career résumé and should receive plenty of reps in this coming Saturday's exhibition contest versus the Denver Broncos. Whether or not he can prove doubters such as Orlovsky wrong starting with a solid outing against Denver shall be seen.

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