San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers general manager praises quarterback

The San Francisco 49ers were blessed with quarterback depth last season. They had three starting-caliber quarterbacks in Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy. 

Unfortunately, by the end of the NFC Championship Game, all three were injured as San Francisco lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

It was unclear after the game which one would be their starter in 2023. General manager John Lynch recently named who he thinks should get a chance to start.

Garoppolo won’t be an option for the 49ers. He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. The 49ers must decide between former first-round pick Trey Lance and Purdy. 

According to Nick Wagoner with ESPN, Lynch said he thinks Purdy deserved the opportunity to start in Week 1 of the 2023 season:

“I think Brock has earned the right with the way he played that he’s probably the leader in the clubhouse at that…if we were to line up, he’d probably take that first snap.”

Purdy was a 2022 seventh-round pick who took over for Garoppolo in Week 13. Garoppolo was Lance’s backup and played most of the 2022 season after Lance was injured in Week 2. 

Purdy finished 114-of-170 in passing attempts and threw for 1,374 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Hurricanes not expected to re-sign defenseman, center
Paul Skenes makes incredible Wrigley Field history in second-career MLB start
Maple Leafs tab former Stanley Cup winner as new head coach
NFL insider expands on competition between Steelers QBs Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
NFL sets outrageous prices for Eagles-Packers Brazil game
Scottie Scheffler shoots improbable 66 after warming up for PGA Championship in a jail cell
Nuggets star has worrying comment about latest injury
Broncos 'very unlikely' to bring back former NFL interceptions leader
Greg Olsen offers broadcasting advice to Tom Brady
Yankees' Juan Soto reacts to Hal Steinbrenner contract talk
Mets star has theory about closer Edwin Diaz's recent struggles
Scottie Scheffler arrested, still makes PGA Championship tee time
Timberwolves chew up Nuggets to force Game 7
Rangers secure spot in conference finals after stunning third-period comeback over Hurricanes
Xander Schauffele makes history in first round of PGA Championship
Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner shares massive Juan Soto contract update
Steelers' Cameron Heyward addresses contract holdout
Knicks star ruled out for potential closeout game
Dodgers starter undergoes season-ending UCL surgery
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney gives smug response about not using transfer portal

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.