Jerry Rice repeats 49ers should still start Trey Lance over Jimmy Garoppolo

During a Monday morning radio appearance, San Francisco 49ers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice practically scoffed at anybody believing that veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo should start over second-year pro Trey Lance as soon as this coming Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after Lance struggled in monsoon-like conditions during the Week 1 19-10 loss at the Chicago Bears. 

Lance connected on 13-of-28 throws for 164 yards with no touchdowns and a fourth-quarter interception at Soldier Field, and that performance predictably had many calling for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan to go back to Garoppolo sooner rather than later. 

Rice was asked during Tuesday's edition of "The Adam Schein Podcast" if Shanahan should at least consider giving Garoppolo the nod for the Seahawks matchup. 

"Come on, don’t even go there right now. It’s too early for that, come on," an astonished Rice responded, per Angelina Martin of NBC Sports Bay Area. "That was just the first game of the season. First game of the season, and [Lance] made some great throws. He extended plays … We would’ve never done that with Jimmy G. And Jimmy G is an exceptional quarterback. He’s going to do some good things, but the one thing that Trey brings more is that you’ve got to prepare for him running the football."

Lance recorded a team-high 54 rushing yards on 13 attempts in the loss to the Bears. 

Martin notes that Schein initially wasn't buying what Rice was selling. 

"You’re going to base everything off the first game? I cannot believe you. I can’t believe you right now," Rice said later during the conversation. 

Rice can voice his disbelief all he wants, but the ESPN stats show that Lance finished the season's first week 31st out of 32 eligible quarterbacks with a 50.3 passer rating. The 22-year-old is currently 21st overall with a 43.0 total QBR. 

Those types of numbers won't cut it for fans who already believe the team's backup with a Super Bowl start on his career résumé is the better option of the two.