49ers are back to square one at QB

Earlier this season, San Francisco quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo suffered season-ending injuries. Purdy's injury, suffered during the first quarter of  Sunday's loss to the Eagles, could mean he misses offseason workouts, and depending on how his rehab goes, the preseason as well.

The 49ers are in an imperfect situation, but there's no reason Lance shouldn't get the job next season. The team traded significant resources to acquire him, showing that head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch believe he has the ability to be a franchise QB. 

"I love his natural ability to play the position," Shanahan said after the team drafted Lance. 

At the time, Shanahan noted Lance's skills as a runner.

"If you can get in certain formations where the defense knows you will run him if they don't honor him, now everything is different," he added. (h/t NBC Sports)

Lance hasn't had the time to prove whether he is the guy or not, and the team is running out of time on his rookie deal to see if he's worth a second contract.

The idea has been floated that the 49ers could pursue impending free agent Tom Brady. That would go against Shanahan's goals for San Francisco's offense, which centers on a mobile QB. 

There's also little reason to believe Brady would have fared much better Sunday against a pass rush as formidable as the Eagles. He has been stymied by defensive lines much less imposing in the past.

Lance's only start in 2022 came in impossible throwing conditions in a rainy loss at Chicago. It would be ridiculous to judge him based off that performance. 

Either Lance or Purdy offers the organization the best chance to keep its championship window open. Both are young and inexpensive enough for the team to spend money on improvements around them.

Purdy's run was remarkable, but the team simply gave up too much to select Lance not to put the ball back in his hands. 

He should be the starter for next year's opener. The 49ers made that decision when they traded up to draft him two years ago.