Trey Lance's season has come to an ill-fated end in Week 2.
The 49ers quarterback suffered a fractured ankle against the Seahawks that will require season-ending surgery, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Sunday. entered the game for Lance and led San Francisco to a 27-7 victory over Seattle.
"It's unfortunate for him," Shanahan said after the game. "We're really hurting for him and we were really hoping to see a lot of him this year. So, to see him have that bad of an injury to where he can't come back from it, you feel for him."
Lance will undergo surgery Monday morning, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source.
The 49ers QB was carted off the field with his right leg in an air cast after sustaining the injury in the first quarter. Lance completed 2 of 3 passes for 30 yards and added 13 rushing yards prior to his exit. The injury came when Lance was tackled to the ground during an option run up the middle.
Shanahan scoffed at those questioning his play call with Lance.
"Do you guys watch the other teams in this league?" Shanahan said. "Buffalo does it all the time with their quarterbacks. It's a pretty normal play. It's part of football, and it's unfortunate that he hurt his ankle on it. Very normal. … You should watch some other people."
After restructuring his contract to remain the 49ers' backup QB this offseason, Garoppolo came through in relief by going 13 for 21 for 154 yards passing and a touchdown.
2022 was supposed to be Lance's breakout season after spending his rookie year holding the clipboard and digesting the intricacies of Shanahan's offense. Lance was hand-picked by the 49ers brass in 2021, as San Francisco traded three first-round picks to Miami in order to select the dual-threat QB at No. 3 overall.
Lance's presumptive breakout season began in disappointing fashion last Sunday. The 22-year-old struggled amid a rainstorm in Chicago and his late-game interception led to the Bears prevailing with a 19-10 upset. To his credit, Lance took ownership of his mistakes after the loss, but the growth he looked to achieve going forward will have to wait another season.
Instead, Garoppolo will take over for a team he helped to the NFC Championship Game in 2021. The 49ers (1-1) are on the road in Week 3 to face the Broncos on Sunday night.
