It had already been a rough start to the 2022 season for Trey Lance, and on Sunday it got much worse. During the first quarter of the San Francisco 49ers' Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks, the second-year quarterback went down with an injury and was carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg.
After the game, coach Kyle Shanahan announced Lance would be out for the remainder of the season.
Trey Lance is still down on the field minutes later. pic.twitter.com/neSnqC5M21
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) September 18, 2022
On Monday, the team announced that Lance underwent a successful surgery on the ankle and is expected to be fully recovered for the 2023 season.
"Surgery was performed at Stanford Hospital and repaired two injuries to Lance's ankle, a fibula fracture and ligament disruption," the team said in via statement. "Lance will start the rehab process, and head team physician Dr. Tim McAdams is confident that he will recover completely in time for a full return in the 2023 season."
Lance also posted an update and a photo on Twitter, thanking everyone for their positive thoughts.
He wrote, "Truly appreciate all of the messages and prayers. Surgery was a success and I am ready to attack this rehab process. We will never understand why, but I trust that it's all a part of His plan. I will be back better than ever. This chapter is going to make the story even greater!"
Truly appreciate all of the messages and prayers. Surgery was a success and I am ready to attack this rehab process. We will never understand why, but I trust that it’s all a part of His plan. I will be back better than ever. This chapter is going to make the story even greater! pic.twitter.com/l5hoBWsLDw
— Trey Lance (@treylance09) September 19, 2022
Following the injury, the 49ers quickly announced after Lance went down that the QB would be out for the remainder of the game. Veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo, who returned to the team on a revised contract just before the start of the season, replaced him in the first quarter. Garoppolo led the 49ers to a 27-7 victory.
The injury happened on a Lance keeper on second-and-8. He initially tried to get up, but then went back down and appeared to be in pain as he remained laying on the field, grabbing at his helmet and rocking back and forth.
Garoppolo, who didn't take any training camp or preseason snaps, completed his first four passes after coming in. The 49ers had contemplated trading their former Super Bowl-starting QB, but now Jimmy G is back atop the depth chart for the foreseeable future.
Lance got off to a rough start in Week 1 in his first season as the 49ers' designated starter, completing 13 of 28 passes against the Bears for 164 yards with an interception in the upset loss. The game was played in wild, wet weather, which played a big part in his troubles.
Before being carted off, Lance was 2 of 3 for 30 yards and the 49ers were up 3-0. On the ground, Lance had three carries for 13 yards.
