LISTEN: Why Weren't The 49ers More Aggressive At The Trade Deadline? →
placeholder image

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports


49ers’ Trey Lance finally healthy after injury-riddled rookie campaign, isn’t concerned with outside criticism

May 24, 2022 at 3:41 PM

Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.

It feels like everywhere you turn, there is someone reporting skepticism about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance. On Tuesday, Lance and his teammates (most of them, at least) were back on the practice field for the second day of organized team activities. This time, reporters were allowed to watch.

Lance was among the players made available to the media after the on-field session. A reporter asked him about the reports of doubt from those on the outside looking in. The quarterback offered an honest response.

"In the most respectful way possible, it doesn't change how I feel about you guys as people, but it's not my job to care what you guys say," Lance told reporters. "Or anyone else on social media. For me, I care what the guys in the locker room think, what my coaching staff thinks. At the end of the day, that's my job.

"You guys, unfortunately, aren't the ones making decisions for me or really have any effect on me, again, in the most respectful way possible. But I know everyone's got strong opinions one way or the other. Like I said, I'm going to go out and try to prove people wrong, prove myself right. But I'm doing it for the guys in the locker room."

Lance acknowledges that his play could have been better during his rookie campaign but offered an explanation for why he didn't live up to his own expectations—injuries. Not using it as an excuse necessarily, Lance shared that the finger injury he dealt with early on lasted much of the season and didn't start feeling normal again until recently.

"I can tell you, he got healthy while he was gone," head coach Kyle Shanahan said of his young quarterback. "He's come back, and he's gotten a full week's worth of work."

Lance noted that he focused more on getting healthy than adjusting any of his mechanics this offseason. It's only May, and there is still time for that.

"I kind of dealt with my finger throughout the season, so for me, it was kind of getting that back, and getting healthy, and feeling back to myself," Lance said. "Like, towards the end of the season, I wasn't the best version of myself overall. It was a long season, a long pre-draft process, of me not being in school. Everyone says it's going to be, but you don't really realize it until it happens.

"And I think the finger, for me, was the biggest thing just as far as throwing the ball. I kind of had to learn to throw the ball differently without kind of using my pointer finger, I guess because of just where it was at throughout the year. But now, I feel like I'm in a great spot, health-wise, and throwing the ball wall, and feeling really good."

Lance added that his finger didn't straighten completely as the season progressed. He was able to manage the situation, but it was a challenge.

"As the season goes on, it kind of starts straightening and straightening more and more, and the swelling goes down. But it's just a thing that takes time," Lance said while noting that he tried to avoid developing bad throwing habits due to the limitation.

Much to Lance's surprise, the intrigue surrounding his finger continued as reporters pressed on about the injury. The gracious quarterback laughed and continued responding, revealing that he didn't have to undergo an offseason procedure, and the finger is 100 percent now.

"Towards the end of the season, it got close [to feeling normal]," Lance said. "But [there's] a lot going on at that time. But I'd say when I came back, I took a few weeks—about a month—off of throwing the football, everything. When I came back, I felt back to myself."

Related News

Enjoy this article? Follow us to never miss more!

Powered by Follow.it


Comments

More San Francisco 49ers News

placeholder image

49ers' Brandon Aiyuk provides update one week after season-ending knee injury

By David Bonilla
Oct 28

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk gave fans an update on his recovery via his YouTube channel one week after suffering a season-ending knee injury. "I came to give you all a little update [after] one week [with] a torn ACL, MCL [and a] messed up meniscus," Aiyuk...


placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan: 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall improving each week

By David Bonilla
Oct 29

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is pleased with the progress of first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall. The rookie wide receiver made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, a significant achievement considering it was just seven weeks after being...


placeholder image

49ers RB Isaac Guerendo nominated for Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week award

By David Bonilla
Oct 29

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo has been nominated for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week award after an impressive performance in the 49ers' 30-24 Week 8 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night, once...


placeholder image

From Sideline to Spotlight: 49ers' Shanahan Rethinks Rookie Roles

By Israel Ortega
Nov 1

Kyle Shanahan has long been known for his exacting standards, often relegating rookies to the "doghouse" for errors or inconsistencies early in their careers. Even current All-Pros like Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Aiyuk have spent time sidelined as Shanahan awaited more...


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone