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Is 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo confident he'll start over Trey Lance?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/25/21

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently teased that veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and third overall draft pick Trey Lance have been competing for the starting job even though Shanahan previously insisted Garoppolo would be his QB1 for the regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 12.

Per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, Shanahan admitted on Wednesday he has "a pretty good idea" who will be atop the depth chart for Week 1, and Garoppolo seemed happy about his coach's decision when speaking with reporters later in the day:

Jimmy Garoppolo also has a pretty good idea of who Week 1’s QB1 is going to be #49ers pic.twitter.com/gxV1DTZooV
— Tracy Sandler (@49ersfangirl) August 25, 2021

"What do you gain by naming it? There would be only one reason I can think of by naming [the starter] that would help, and it would be to end those questions," Shanahan explained. "If you can give me another reason that’s a big advantage, that helps our team, affects anything that has to do with us, then I will name it, but I don’t think it does.

"I know you guys want an answer and stuff, which is fine. I get the suspense of it, but I’m not just going to answer it to end you guys’ suspense. I’m trying to get you more clicks."

Earlier this month, Shanahan said Lance would get plays "situationally" during the regular season even if Garoppolo begins the campaign as the team's starter. Jimmy G likely realizes he could be a couple of September losses away from being benched, but the 29-year-old had reasons to smile on the final Wednesday of August.

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