"I'll be back," Lance responded.
This year was supposed to be an on-the-job learning season for Lance, who started just two games during his rookie 2021 campaign. Instead, this year's in-game development was cut short after less than five quarters of play.
Jimmy Garoppolo takes over at quarterback, and the 49ers remain a competitive team thanks to the veteran's experience and the roster's talent level. Still, the loss of Lance stings. The 22-year-old is the future, and now his development has hit another setback.
The second-year quarterback already had the respect of his teammates, though.
"He was already a general on the field," running back Jeff Wilson told KNBR's Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher. "He already had the respect of everybody. So none of that was ever the problem. It hurts to see because you can tell—you know how you can tell that somebody is really becoming comfortable, like feels good in their own skin?
"You could that moment was coming that everybody knew he was capable of. It was right around the corner. Shoot, it probably would have even been that game. So that's why it's so tough because you can just—like even in the huddle—you could just see it in his eyes."
There is some speculation that Lance could make a full recovery in 10 to 12 weeks, making a return this season at least possible. But, realistically, we may not see the quarterback on the field again until next season. Lance faced much criticism this offseason and was ready to prove his critics wrong before things took a terrible turn on Sunday.
"He [was] really ready to prove everybody wrong," Wilson said. "He [was] really ready to show that he could ball because he can, and that's the bummer part about it. Then he's going to have to [deal with] all the critics and the down people. All that, man, I just hate it for him because everybody knows the type of player he is, and we can't wait to get him back."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Wilson below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
John Lynch: 49ers deal with Brock Purdy before offseason program possible, but not guaranteed
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke with reporters Monday at the NFL's annual league meeting in Florida, addressing contract negotiations with quarterback Brock Purdy—while keeping details to a minimum. One thing, however, was clear when asked if Purdy... -
Lance Zierlein mock draft: 49ers upgrade O-line with three-year starter
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein has released his third mock draft of the year for NFL.com, projecting the San Francisco 49ers to address what many see as one of their biggest needs heading into the 2025 season—the offensive line. With the draft just weeks away, the 49ers have... -
Jones-Drew mock draft has 49ers adding disruptive D-lineman
Maurice Jones-Drew believes he knows the perfect fit for the San Francisco 49ers in the upcoming draft. In his latest mock draft, the NFL.com analyst projects Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham to the team with the 11th overall pick. "The 49ers lost a ton of talent along... -
Former 49ers foe joining 3rd team in 3 years
Russell Wilson's time with the Pittsburgh Steelers lasted just one season. The veteran quarterback, a longtime nemesis of the San Francisco 49ers, is reportedly signing a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the New York Giants, which could rise to $21 million with...