Analyst expects 49ers to start Jimmy Garoppolo over Trey Lance in Week 1

If the adage that teaches "where there's smoke, there's fire" isn't true regarding the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback situation, some within the organization may have to answer a handful of awkward questions later this year.

As of Wednesday afternoon, veteran signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo remained attached to the 49ers along with 2021 rookie Trey Lance. It was thought as far back as the fall months that Lance would be named the team's starter by now, but that hasn't yet publicly happened. Former offensive lineman and current broadcaster and football analyst Ryan Harris spoke with CBS Sports HQ on Wednesday and explained why he believes Garoppolo won't be going anywhere this summer. 

"But I'm here to tell you, after people I've talked to, everyone I've spoken to expected Jimmy Garoppolo to start [Week 1 against the Chicago Bears]," Harris said, according to David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. 

"From players I've talked to and coaches I've talked to who are at the 49ers, Trey Lance is really leaving a lot to be desired in terms of the fitness of his arm, whether or not he can digest the playbook, and can really start to process the game at a high level. So breaking news for you, I believe it's going to be Jimmy Garoppolo in that game with the better structure around him and having Kyle Shanahan want to create the narrative Week 1 against the Bears." 

Such chatter about Lance that was first heard back in February is becoming difficult to ignore. NFL insider Matt Lombardo tweeted earlier this month that "the 49ers' staff has been continually underwhelmed" by Lance. Additionally, former San Francisco cornerback Richard Sherman and NBC Sports' Peter King both recently speculated the 49ers could keep Garoppolo through the 2022 season as a "just in case" option.