SANTA CLARA — Just as with the preseason opener in his rookie year, 49ers quarterback Trey Lance wasted little time in sharing what drew the organization to him as the No. 3 overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft.
Lance capped his second and final series of Friday night’s exhibition opener against the Green Bay Packers with a flourish.
He delivered a perfectly pitched deep ball down the left touchline to speedy rookie wide receiver Danny Gray, who beat Green Bay Packers safety Dallin Leavitt for a 76-yard touchdown.
Gray finished his sprint to the end zone and Lance was not far behind to pick up the football and hand it back to Gray as a souvenir. The game gave the 49ers a 10-7 lead in the first quarter.
Lance played 11 snaps in the preseason opener. He completed four of five pass attempts for 92 yards, one touchdown, and a 158.3 perfect passer rating.
The game served as a soft opening for Lance’s first preseason game in his first season as the 49ers’ undisputed starting quarterback. A year ago, Lance threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Trent Sherfield in his preseason debut.
Lance was clearly in the lead from the start, speaking briefly to his assembled teammates on the field before the game and later leading the team out of the tunnel.
After the defense stopped the Green Bay Packers with a three-and-out to open the game, Lance and the 49ers offense took over at their own 41-yard line.
Lance’s first streak consisted of eight offensive players that included five running games. Lance ran off with his first drop back after failing to find anyone open. He scrambled for a 7-yard gain.
Lance completed an 8-yard pass to slot receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, then tossed Ross Dwelley up the left to the tight end for a 3-yard gain.
In a third and ninth game of Green Bay 32, Lance led fast rookie receiver Danny Gray too much on the right touchline. Gray made the catch but couldn’t put a foot in the game.
The failed third down conversion set up kicker Robbie Gould for a 50-yard field goal.
Lance made up for his misplaced attempt against Gray in the next series – a deep pass that also happened in a third and ninth game.
The 49ers didn’t play many of their frontline starters, including wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle. Left tackle Trent Williams was also held out.
Running backs Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Jeff Wilson Jr. also didn’t fit.
Backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld took over for Lance early in the second quarter and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Ray-Ray McCloud on his first snap, giving the 49ers a 17-7 lead.
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Lance is said to get a lot of work in joint practice against the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday. The teams will complete two training sessions before playing in a pre-season game next Saturday night.
Coach Kyle Shanahan sees these head-to-head drills as a much better preparation than last season’s games. The 49ers don’t plan on Lance seeing any playing time in next week’s Exhibition game against the Vikings.
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