SANTA CLARA, Calif. — If 49ers quarterback Trey Lance is shifting into crisis mode with the return of Jimmy Garoppolo, he’s hiding it well.
In his first public comments Thursday since learning the 49ers’ starter since 2017 was back on the roster to serve as his backup, Lance was as positive and upbeat as he’s been in every media opportunity through the offseason and training camp.
“It’s good to have him back, good to have him back in the meeting, in the QB room again,” Lance said. “He’s been a big brother to me since the day I got drafted. I know he’s got my back, I’ve got his back.”
The two quarterbacks went through the normal paces of practice along with rookie Brock Purdy, surely aware that all eyes of a sizable media contingent were upon their every move. Yet to Lance, it was just another day at the office.
“It was super normal, actually,” Lance said. “You guys probably wouldn’t even believe it. It was fun having him around. He’s a high-energy guy, in the huddle, outside the huddle, in the locker room. I’m glad he’s back.”
Lance said he and Garoppolo communicated via text message Monday night “when the news broke. I saw him the next morning. We had a practice so he came in, we talked at his locker a little bit. It was all love. Nothing’s changed between us.”
While Garoppolo’s presence on the sideline will be noted every time Lance makes a bad throw or questionable decision, the newly anointed starter said it won’t change his mindset.
“I’m worried about what the guys in the locker room think, what I think, what the coaches think, what the guys in this organization think,” Lance said. “Outside of that, there’s Jimmy, there’s Trey, there’s all of that, but it’s going to be a collaborative group.”
Lance plans on picking Garoppolo’s brain as the starter in the same way he did as a rookie.
“I don’t think the relationship changes,” Lance said. “The dynamic is just different. Different roles. He’s still going to be a huge resource for me. I’m going to be able to bounce questions off him and watch tape. After each play, what did he see? The same thing I did with Nate (Sudfeld), the same thing I can do with Brock and all our quarterback coaches.”
Lance said he wasn’t asked about his thoughts about Garoppolo’s return by coach Kyle Shanahan or G.M. John Lynch, nor did he expect to be.
“It’s not my decision. It’s the organization’s decision,” Lance said. “But when they told me, I knew Jimmy’s been on the roster this entire time so I knew it was a possibility we’d bring him back. There’s been no bad blood at all between me and Jimmy since Day 1.”
Garoppolo’s presence, Lance believes, strengthens the position group as a whole.
“That’s our goal, to have the best QB room in the league, and we’re pretty dang close if we’re not there,” Lance said. “I’m just super-excited to have him in the room, a guy who’s done it.”
Although the pecking order has changed, Lance said the approach has not.
“I’m sure from the outside looking in (it looks that way), but for our team, nothing’s changed,” Lance said.
Although Lance didn’t address it directly, the fact that Garoppolo was relegated to a side field and rehabbing his shoulder enabled him to assume a leadership role — one at which he’s appeared very comfortable and in control. While his on-field performance has been uneven, Lance is confident he’s made progress.
“I think things are going well,” Lance said. “I’ve gotten to know the guys better, new guys like Ray-Ray (McCloud), and I got to throw to George (Kittle) and Deebo (Samuel) and some guys I didn’t get to work with in the offseason as much.
“There have been ups and downs for sure, going against our defense and the stuff we do. I think my mental toughness and my mentality has changed in a good way. I’m learning as much as I possibly can.”
