Kyle Shanahan clarifies the 49ers quarterback situation

The noise around the 49ers quarterback position and when Trey Lance will take over has been answered by head coach Kyle Shanahan a number of times since the draft.

Today the coach was asked if Lance will play more in the second half of the season.

“It depends how our season goes.” Shanahan responded. “I’ve said the same answers with that since the beginning. So, I don’t know how many different ways I can say.”

Shanahan was then asked what he meant because there are packages built in for Lance every game.

“Yeah, so you guys know that answer. Right? Every time he’s up, there’ll be packages for him, and he’ll always be an option to play.”

The follow up was that Shanahan had answered, ‘we’ll see how the season goes.’

“Because I thought his question was, ‘is he ever going to become the guy?’ And that’s how I have to see how the season goes,” said Shanahan. “When he’s ready when our team’s ready. Obviously, there’s nothing to play for, you make that decision for a lot of guys trying to prepare guys for the next year and stuff like that.”

There you have it. As previously reported here on a number of occasions, Trey Lance will become the starting quarterback once the 49ers are eliminated from the playoff race.

In other news from 49ers practice today, the 49ers announced that they have waived WR Jalen Hurd. Hurd, a promising scheme fit due to his size and ability was drafted by the team in the third round in 2019 but exits having never played a snap. Hurd had a history of injury during his time in college, and those followed him to the NFL and ultimately kept him off the field.

In addition to the release of Hurd, the team signed OL Corbin Kaufusi and CB Saivion Smith to the team’s practice squad. Kaufusi in not new to the 49ers, having been with the club during training camp. 

The following players did not participate in practice on Thursday as the team began preparations for their contest Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams: RB JaMycal Hasty (ankle), DL Maurice Hurst (calf), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (ankle), C Alex Mack (not injury related – resting player), WR Mohamed Sanu (knee), DB Jimmie Ward (quadricep), T Trent Williams (not injury related – resting player), S Tavon Wilson (foot).

In addition, DL Arik Armstead (neck), TE George Kittle (calf), RB Elijah Mitchell (rib), CB Emmanuel Moseley (neck), CB Josh Norman (rib) were limited participants.