San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana doesn’t sound like the biggest fan of quarterback Trey Lance these days.
Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Montana said during Wednesday’s edition of “PFT Live” that Brock Purdy should start over Lance if the 2022 rookie is available for Week 1 of the 2023 campaign.
“If Purdy’s healthy I think it’s his job,” Montana declared.
Purdy went a perfect 5-0 in his regular-season starts and then guided the 49ers to a pair of playoff victories before he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the NFC Championship Game.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (h/t Kevin Patra) reported Wednesday that Purdy plans to have surgery on Feb. 22 and hopes to be ready for training camp.
Before Rapoport’s update, Montana generated headlines earlier this week when he said the 49ers should hold onto Jimmy Garoppolo and start Garoppolo over Lance this September if Purdy isn’t available.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has made it clear he doesn’t “see any scenario” where Garoppolo remains with the organization, and it has been reported that the relationship between Jimmy G and the club has gone “south.”
In his nine regular season appearances, Purdy completed 114-of-170 passes (67.1%) for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.
To compare, Lance has connected on just 56-of-102 career regular-season attempts (54.9%) for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three picks. Lance is recovering from a season-ending ankle injury he suffered back on Sept. 18.
“I don’t think he’s ready yet,” Montana added about Lance during Wednesday’s show. “I don’t think he’s ready to take that caliber team. Talented kid, and he might be, part way through the year if he gets more starts I don’t know, but do you want to turn over a team that you want to get off to a great start with a guy you still have a question about?”
The 49ers had routinely been linked in stories and rumors with Tom Brady before Brady retired “for good” last week. Barring a surprise development, Lance will begin springtime workouts atop San Francisco’s depth chart.
