49ers news: Rookie Trey Lance still has to carry teammates’ equipment

Just because 49ers quarterback Trey Lance is turning heads in training camp doesn’t mean he’s absolved of rookie duties when the time comes.

Life can be hard for a rookie in the NFL.

And while it might not be quite as hard for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the fact he’s a first-year player needing to cut his proverbial teeth at the pro level isn’t going to elude him until, well… he’s no longer a rookie.

Some of the notorious hazing initiations the league was known for years ago may have long since passed. Yet that doesn’t excuse first-year players from having to perform either mundane or even embarrassing tasks.

Including being the de facto “equipment manager” for veteran players.

Lance has been lighting things up in training camp, including making an eye-popping off-balance 50-yard throw during camp earlier this week. But that won’t prevent him from having to carry his teammates’ helmets and equipment after practice.

And as the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch caught on camera, that’s exactly what Lance had to do after Wednesday’s practice session:

It doesn’t seem to matter to the Niners whether or not a rookie is a top-five draft pick or an undrafted player, they’re all going to perform rookie-like duties.

Let’s hope Lance took it in stride.

49ers already included Trey Lance in ‘Rookie Hype Machine’

In what’s become something of a yearly tradition for San Francisco, first-year players are expected to partake in what’s become known as the “rookie hype machine” during practices where fans are allowed to attend.

This was nulled last year, of course, in light of fans being barred from training camp in light of the pandemic. But the 49ers have brought back the relatively silly yet enthusiastic dance moves at the beginning of practices in front of crowds.

He might not win the award for most enthusiastic rookie hype-machine players this season, but at least Lance’s efforts were recognized:

https://www.facebook.com/112852666874/videos/833070484308497

Some high-profile dance moves might have been preferred, though.

Lance might still have to carry equipment, run silly errands, grab food for other players and do other rookie-like duties for the rest of the season regardless of where his first-year trajectory takes him.

Welcome to the league, rook!