He san francisco 49ers expressed optimism about his quarterback situation heading into the 2023 season at the League Annual Meeting this week, and while Brock Purdy appears to be the frontrunner for the starting quarterback job, CEO Jed York isn’t giving up. beaten with 2021 first-round draft pick Trey Lance.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Tuesday that Lance entered the 2022 season as the starting quarterback, but after suffering a season-ending ankle injury, along with Purdy’s unsuspecting performance that took the Niners to the nfc Championship, the picture this offseason would be very different.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrates with teammates after running for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, December 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

«We’re going to start with whoever gives us the best chance to win,» Shanahan said. «Brock is a guy who leads that because we’ve seen him play. But he’s injured right now, and I don’t know if we’ll have him in Week 1 and I don’t know if we’ll have him in training camp.» I think there’s a possibility in all of that.»

49ERS’ KYLE SHANAHAN ADDRESSES BROCK PURDY’S RETURN, QUARTERBACK SITUATION: ‘WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS’

But for York, Lance could still be that guy.

«I wouldn’t change anything that we’ve done on the decision with Trey,» York said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. «I think Trey has a chance to be great. But it’s an advantage when you have someone late in the seventh round who ends up coming in and being very impactful for your team.»

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance #5 looks forward during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 11, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance #5 looks forward during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 11, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

«You can’t worry, well Trey hasn’t played as many games as we would have liked,» he continued. «It’s not his fault. He got hurt.»

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York also noted that rookie quarterback deals have allowed the 49ers to make aggressive moves, and despite Lance’s more expensive deal, York believes it still works.

«When you look at when we drafted him, we wanted to make sure we had a young quarterback on a rookie contract that allows you to say, ‘Okay, Javon.'» [Hargrave] It’s kind of a bonus.'»

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) gets help onto a cart during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, May 18. September 2022.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) gets help onto a cart during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, May 18. September 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

The 49ers gave up three first-round draft picks to take Lance with the third overall pick. He signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $34.1 million deal, while «Mr. Irrelevant» Purdy signed a four-year, $3.7 million deal.

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«Brock played eight games and won them all and played at an extremely high level. And we’re very excited to have that level of player as our quarterback,» Shanahan said Tuesday.

«Now we think Trey could be that, we would have done it last year if he had stayed healthy. The good thing for him is, with Brock injured, he had a chance to try to get that back and everything.»