Doctor not worried about 'arm fitness' of 49ers' Trey Lance?

Much has been said, written, and suggested about why the San Francisco 49ers continue to have veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster even though 2021 rookie Trey Lance is reportedly preparing as if he'll be the team's QB1 by the time preseason games begin in August. 

Former offensive lineman and current broadcaster and football analyst Ryan Harris raised eyes when he said Wednesday he believes Garoppolo will be San Francisco's starter in September. 

"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," Harris told CBS Sports HQ at the time. 

Harris later tweeted that he was referring to "the ability to consistently throw the football all season long and beyond to the playoffs" when he mentioned Lance's "arm fitness." 

Kyle Madson of Niners Wire/USA Today spoke with Associate Professor of UCSF Orthopedic Surgery and Director of Sports Medicine at Benioff Children’s Hospital, Dr. Nirav Pandya about Lance's supposed problem. Pandya didn't sound too concerned. 

"I have never heard that about a QB, only pitchers," Pandya explained. "QBs can definitely hurt their shoulder, but in the absence of some structural issue, they don’t throw enough or fast enough to have general durability issues. That’s why you don’t see QBs getting Tommy John surgery." 

Pandya added: "Unless there is some arm injury we don’t know about, I wouldn’t worry about it at all." 

The real subject here may be the story behind the story that involves multiple individuals hinting that some within the 49ers believe Garoppolo and not Lance gives the club's 2022 roster the best chance to at least play on Super Bowl Sunday come February.