The NFL world was dealt two plot twists from the 49ers as their preseason wound down. The first was the decision by coach Kyle Shanahan to name Sam Darnold, not Trey Lance, the backup quarterback to Brock Purdy. Then came the second surprise, as Lance was traded to the Cowboys for a 2024 fourth-round pick.
Lance, the former No. 3 pick in the 2022 NFL draft, is less than one full year removed from being named San Francisco’s starter—a decision which left Jimmy Garoppolo holding a clipboard.
Now, Lance is a distant No. 3 in Dallas while Garoppolo is off to a fresh start of his own as the starting quarterback for the Raiders. And following the surprising trade that sent Lance to the Cowboys, Garoppolo spoke to Sports Illustrated’s Robin Lundberg, addressing the situation between 49ers and the former first-round pick.
