Reality can sometimes be conveyed through only something that sounds callous.
So let’s preface some “too soon” honesty with this: Trey Lance is likely still the future of the San Francisco 49ers at quarterback. His immense tools haven’t diminished and he can still develop into a centerpiece starter in the NFL. And not even his worst critics, if they have any humanity, should take joy in Lance’s season-ending broken ankle on Sunday.
But if we’re being honest about one relatively small timeframe — just the 2022 season — the reality is Jimmy Garoppolo has gotten a rare opportunity to prove the San Francisco braintrust wrong in its quest to replace him.