Former NFL coach Sean Payton is the latest to toss criticism Trey Lance's way (h/t Tom Dierberger of NBC Sports Bay Area), following some harsh words from another former NFL coach, Mike Martz. Actually, Payton's comments came before Martz's but started to make their rounds around social media today.
Payton believes the San Francisco 49ers will eventually replace their second-year quarterback with veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, the former starter now serving as Lance's backup.
As for Martz, he was less-than-impressed by Lance's first outing as a full-time starter.
"I've never seen anything about this kid that was encouraging at all," Martz said on the 33rd Team podcast.
While Payton wasn't as harsh as Martz, the coach obviously believes that inside the building, the 49ers organization might start second-guessing their quarterback situation.
"I think—and I believe this, don't kid yourself—I think at some point, we're going to see Garoppolo back in that lineup," Payton said Monday on The Herd.
Lance finished Sunday's rain-soaked regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears having completed 13-of-28 pass attempts for 164 yards and an interception while adding 54 rushing yards on 13 carries. It wasn't an impressive outing, but it was only the 22-year-old quarterback's third career NFL start.
Payton noted that he believes Garoppolo will eventually get onto the football field again, not because of an injury to Lance but because of a quarterback controversy.
"So here's the pickle if you're [general manager] John [Lynch] and if you're [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan]," Payton continued. "You drafted this kid so high, right? And man, it's hard to sell to the guy upstairs writing the check. Our little binky, our blanket, is Garoppolo, right?
"[They'll say], 'But we're going to start [Lance]. We're committed to starting him.' But at some point, [we have] the rest of the roster sitting there, ready to win."
Lance's next opportunity to prove his critics wrong will come on Sunday, at home against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks.