The 49ers felt like they would be capable of winning a lot of games this season with either Trey Lance or Garoppolo lined up at quarterback. The thinking, of course, was that if something were to happen to Lance, 22, the starting tight end, the 49ers wouldn’t have to tear up their target list for the 2022 season. On Sunday something happened to Lance. Lance’s lower right leg was placed in a cast and he was carted off the field in the first quarter of the 49ers’ 27-7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the team’s home opener at Levi’s Stadium. Immediately after the game, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Lance suffered a broken ankle and will undergo season-ending surgery on Monday. This game has significant implications for the 49ers beyond what it means in the standings. Here are highlights from the 49ers’ win, which evened the team’s record at 1-1 after two games:
Worst fear with Lance
The 49ers traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft and invested the No. 3 overall pick in Lance because of his unique skill set, believing he would be able to make plays from the pocket as well as generate a lot of big yards with his athleticism and running skills. Of course, that also means Shanahan would be putting him at risk every time he called the quarterback’s number on a running play. In the preseason, it was a big deal when Lance took a slide at the end of a game. We all saw in Week 1 what happens when a quarterback slips. It’s a cautious move, of course. But in today’s NFL, it’s also a smart offense. The 49ers were called for two unnecessary roughness penalties on a late sliding Justin Fields. Perhaps, Lance could have avoided injury with a slide. Instead, his right leg got stuck awkwardly under 345-pound Seattle defensive tackle Brian Maun and linebacker Cody Barton. Shanahan will be criticized for using Lance, and that’s completely understandable. But Lance’s dual-threat abilities were the reason the 49ers were so high on him in the first place.
It’s all about Jimmy G — again
Garoppolo took a dramatic pay cut to stay with the 49ers because he felt the situation in Santa Clara gave him the best chance to rebuild his stock for the 2023 offseason. Garoppolo returns as the 49ers’ starter for the foreseeable future after Lance suffered a long-term injury. By the way, who needs boot camp? Not James Richard Garoppolo, that’s for sure. Garoppolo came in cold from the 49ers sideline after not taking a snap during training camp this summer. Everyone thought he wouldn’t return to the 49ers this season until he signed a new contract to keep him on a significant pay cut after the preseason. The 49ers built a 20-0 lead in the second half, and Garoppolo played no small part in going 10 of 13 for 124 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown to Ross Dwelley. In the game, Garoppolo completed 13 of 21 pass attempts for 154 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Garoppolo tied the game in the final two minutes with a 1-yard strike to a quarterback.
All for the defense too
The 49ers made a big play on special teams in the first half that led to a touchdown. The special teams then surrendered a touchdown in the third quarter on a blocked field goal. So while the offense and special teams may come and go, the 49ers are relying on DeMeco Ryans defense to hold things together. The 49ers made some big stops, including cornerback Charvarius Ward’s interception in the end zone on a halfback attempt by DeeJay Dallas. Safety Tashaun Gipson recorded an interception of Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith after Talanoa Hufanga deflected a pass intended for Tyler Lockett. The 49ers defense put the clamps on Seattle’s offense from start to finish. The defense did not allow a point as the 49ers beat the Seahawks for just the fourth time in the last 21 meetings. RELATED: Garoppolo makes immediate impact after Lance injury Defensive end Nick Bosa recorded 1.5 sacks. He and rookie Drake Jackson teamed up for a sack on a third-and-12 play midway through the fourth quarter that effectively shut the door on any hope Seattle had of a comeback. The 49ers held the Seahawks to just 216 total yards, including just 35 yards rushing (2.5-yard average). Seattle converted just two of seven third-down attempts (29 percent). Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast
