George Kittle Encouraged by Trey Lance’s Improvement Entering San Francisco 49ers 2023 Season.

The 49ers are still uncertain whether Brock Purdy will be available to join the team for the 2023 season. Fortunately, they have trusted backup options in place if needed.

Trey Lance and Sam Darnold Competing for the QB2 Position for the 49ers.

Trey Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft, is entering his third season with limited starting experience, having only made four starts in his professional career. Sam Darnold brings more experience, with 55 starts in 56 appearances, but currently, both quarterbacks are competing for the QB2 position behind Purdy and potentially the QB1 spot until Purdy is ready to play.

Kittle Impressed with Trey Lance’s Progress

Trey Lance had the opportunity to train with his teammate George Kittle at the annual Tight End University camp. Kittle liked what he saw from Lance.
“Trey has been great,” Kittle recently told Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think he took steps forward during the organized team activities. It’s really fun when you start connecting on plays that you might have struggled with in the past, and we did that a couple of times during OTAs, so that was fun. I got to work extra with him.”
“I also enjoy talking football with Trey because one of the things Travis Kelce, the Chiefs tight end, said about him and Patrick Mahomes is their communication about specific things and discussing everything,” shared Kittle. “So, as long as they’re on the same page, it doesn’t really matter what the defense does. You can find that spot, or he’s going to know what Travis is going to do on any given play because they’ve rehearsed it so many times, they’ve talked about it so many times.”
“So, having the opportunity to sit down and talk with Trey, watch film with him, and having this event where Trey sat next to me during our meetings. For him to be able to listen to guys talking about routes and stuff like that, he learns from that too. So, it’s just a fun opportunity for him.”

Preparedness for All Scenarios Key for the 49ers

Even if Purdy is unable to start immediately, Trey Lance may not see the field. That role could go to Sam Darnold, who also participated in Tight End University. However, the 49ers have learned the value of being prepared for any situation, especially at the quarterback position, in the past five years.
They will have ample time to prepare, and if Kittle is correct, they might be in a better position than many people realize.