49ers’ Kyle Shanahan: ‘No open competition right now’ at QB, Jimmy Garoppolo to get starting reps

On the primary day of coaching camp, Kyle Shanahan wasted no time revealing the pecking order of the 49ers depth chart at quarterback. The top coach famous there’s presently not an open competitors for the Week 1 job below heart, additional cementing veteran Jimmy Garoppolo’s standing heading into the 2021 season. In the meantime, No. 3 general decide Trey Lance — who has but to signal his rookie contract — enters his first camp as Garoppolo’s backup. 

“There isn’t any open competitors proper now,” Shanahan mentioned Tuesday. “Jimmy is coming in because the one and Trey is coming in as the 2.”

After all, the “proper now” caveat from Shanahan does hold the door open barely for Lance to presumably drive his hand with a robust camp, nevertheless it does look like the staff is intent on taking issues gradual with its first-round rookie. Whereas Lance is clearly the long run on the place after the 49ers made the blockbuster splash to go up and get him on the draft final spring, it remained to be seen how quickly he’d truly unseat Garoppolo because the starter. Given his draft standing, it was honest to surprise if he might rival for the job as quickly as Week 1, nevertheless it does seem like Shanahan is open to not solely start this season with Garoppolo however presumably even journey him your entire manner. 

A situation the place Garoppolo stays the starter all through the 2021 marketing campaign as Lance learns within the shadows after which ascends to the beginning job in 2022 does not appear out of the query. As a result of they’ve a veteran like Garoppolo — who Shanahan counseled again in June for putting together his best camp since being acquired from the 49ers — the staff can stay aggressive this season whereas they put together for the subsequent part within the background. 

One of many main questions with that plan, nevertheless, is Garoppolo’s sturdiness. When wholesome, he is confirmed to be a quarterback that may assist lead San Francisco to a Super Bowl. He is additionally 24-9 in his begins with the Niners (together with playoffs). That mentioned, he is struggled to remain on the sphere, together with in 2020 when he was restricted to only six video games. That lack of sturdiness was the driving drive within the staff transferring off Garoppolo for the long-term and making the commerce as much as No. 3 for Lance. 

Whereas Garoppolo’s well being might show to be a key piece in whether or not or not he’ll hold his beginning job this season, Lance’s play naturally figures in as properly. If the rookie proves that he is able to taking part in in Shanahan’s offense at a excessive degree, there ought to be little question about inserting him into the lineup to start that period. Once more, time will inform as to when that change will in the end occur.  

It does appear clear, nevertheless, that Garoppolo will on the very least be given an preliminary probability to be the 49ers starter in 2021 and attempt to accomplish what the staff almost accomplished in 2019 — win a Tremendous Bowl.