San Francisco was already all-in on the 2022 NFL season with sophomore quarterback Trey Lance running the show. But with the 22-year-old out for the season with an ankle injury and veteran Jimmy Garoppolo stepping in as the starter under center, is the team in a better position to win? Some 49ers teammates reportedly think so. Third — and this is the part no one wants to say in public, but something many players and coaches proclaimed privately in the aftermath of Sunday’s game — the 49ers are a better team right now with Garoppolo at quarterback than they were she was with Lance. Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote Sunday night. “As two of those realists said to me after the game, ‘I can’t say it, but you can.’ “ These anonymous comments are consistent with recent changes in the 49ers’ odds to win Super Bowl LVII. Our partners at PointsBet have the 49ers listed at +2000 to win the Super Bowl ahead of Sunday’s game. But with Garoppolo under center, San Francisco jumped to +1800, meaning a $100 bet would win $1,800. It’s hard to judge Lance’s performance in 2022 given that it only lasted five quarters. In Week 1, Lance battled through a downpour at Soldier Field and finished with 164 yards on 13-of-28 passing in a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears. Lance made just his fourth career start Sunday in the 49ers’ 27-7 win over the Seattle Seahawks before suffering the season-ending injury. He completed two passes for 30 yards and rushed three times for 13 yards over the team’s first 16 snaps at Levi’s Stadium. He started the game by leading San Francisco inside the 5-yard line on the team’s first drive and had the team rolling back into the end zone on the next possession before leaving the game with the injury. The 49ers’ ensuing drive featured Garoppolo under center. In four plays, San Francisco rushed 62 yards down the field, capped by Ross Dwelley’s 38-yard touchdown run. “I thought he did a really good job coming off the bench, made some real key shots,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of Garoppolo after Sunday’s game. “… Especially, it was difficult when we lost a little bit of our game there. in the third [quarter]early in the fourth because it was a little harder to throw it there when the rain started coming. “But I’m really proud of Jimmy and how he came in and was ready for the moment and helped us win.” RELATED: What Shanahan said to 49ers’ Lance after season-ending injury Are the 49ers in a better position to win with Garoppolo in the short term? Perhaps, considering Lance’s inexperience. But San Francisco is missing an opportunity to truly discover the ceiling — for better or worse — of the quarterback they’ve chosen to lead the franchise for the next decade. Editor’s note: All odds are provided by our partner PointsBet. PointsBet is our official sports betting partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking on our links. Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast
