Trey Lance is ‘excited’ to compete with Brock Purdy for starting job in 2023

Super Bowl week is officially upon us football fans. Even though the San Francisco 49ers will not be in the big game, a few players made the trip out to Phoenix, Arizona, including quarterback Trey Lance.

The third-year Niner stopped by the Rich Eisen Show on Radio Row to talk about the 2022 season and what’s ahead in 2023. Coming off a season-ending ankle injury, Lance was candid with the show host, saying that it was hard to watch his team play while he was sidelined. Although he was thrilled to see his team thrive, he wanted to contribute as well, working on game prep with the coaches while he rehabbed his lower body injuries.

“It was hard for sure, ups and downs throughout the year,” Lance said to Rich Eisen Wednesday. “I just talked with [49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan] and was like ‘man what can I do?””

"It was hard… ups and downs throughout the year."

Loved this honest chat with @49ers QB @treylance09 on how this season was for him, his rehab and the coming competition with @brockpurdy13:#NFL #FTTB #SBLVII pic.twitter.com/QVXD7s4ZwA

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) February 8, 2023

The rest, as they say, is history.

Now entering 2023 as the most healthy of the two QBs, reports have surfaced that there could be a true battle at the position in the offseason.

Lance will have a head start in the race, scheduled to be full-go for football by the end of February. Whereas Brock Purdy will have surgery to repair a torn UCL on the 22nd of the month, keeping him off the field until the start of training camp in August.

Despite the elephant in the room, Lance doesn’t want the competition in the locker room to be blown out of proportion, hoping to win the job cleanly over the summer after Purdy impressed his rookie season.

“It wasn’t a situation and I wouldn’t want it to be that way,” Lance said. “Brock played way too well and Brock played at such a high level and handled himself the right way. I wouldn’t want it to be a situation where I’m just handed something. And I feel horrible obviously for Brock for his injury. For me, I mean, I truly believe everything happens for a reason whether it’s his, he’s going to be better for it, mine, I’m gonna be better for it. And I’m excited to just get on the field and compete. That’s all I want an opportunity to do.”

While the 49ers’ brass seems more confident with Purdy under center moving forward, Lance will definitely have an opportunity to change their minds in the near future. An opportunity is what he’ll get, the better question is will he succeed in doing so?

“Everyone saw what Brock did, Brock doesn’t just come in and play that well and I just get handed something out of the blue, and I don’t expect that or want that.” Trey Lance added. “But I truly believe, yeah, I just want an opportunity to compete, that’s all I want going into this offseason.”

Click here to watch Trey Lance’s interview with Rich Eisen

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