49ers to evaluate Trey Lance before making decision on Jimmy Garoppolo?

It was all the way back on Feb. 1 shortly after the loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game when San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan openly suggested the team could keep veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as its starter for one more season so that 2021 rookie Trey Lance, who turns just 22 years old in May, could continue to develop as a backup. 

Weeks later, ESPN's Adam Schefter explained it wasn't yet a "lock" the 49ers would definitely trade Garoppolo to any would-be buyer during the offseason and added that "Lance was probably further behind than people realized" during his debut campaign. 

Garoppolo remains with San Francisco after the Indianapolis Colts elected against trading for his services, in part because the surgery the 30-year-old needed earlier this month to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder will likely keep him from throwing footballs until after minicamp. The Athletic's Jeff Howe reported Monday afternoon the 49ers may use this updated timeline to further evaluate Lance throughout offseason workouts. 

"If Lance proves that he’s ready, the 49ers will be more apt to pursue a trade for Garoppolo, who would be on the books for $24.8 million with an acquiring team," Howe noted. "But if the 49ers are unsure about Lance and don’t have a great offer on the table for Garoppolo, it’s reasonable to think they would keep their incumbent starter — either into training camp, up to the trade deadline or for the full season." 

On Jan. 30, the 49ers were one successful offensive drive against the Rams away from making a second Super Bowl appearance with Garoppolo as their starter. There continue to be hints that at least some within the Niners may think Garoppolo and not Lance could give a championship-caliber roster the best chance to win a title as soon as next February.