4 reasons 49ers must stick to starting Trey Lance, not Jimmy Garoppolo

The 49ers may be faced with a conundrum in Week 18 and beyond, whether to start Jimmy Garoppolo or rookie Trey Lance, but it should be a quick decision. Here’s why.

The San Francisco 49ers are looking at a challenging yet potentially beneficial decision as they gear up for their playoff-deciding Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, and if that goes well, a postseason campaign further into January.

It’s a tough choice, sure: go back to starting veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, provided he’s healthy enough, or roll with the high-profile rookie, Trey Lance, who flashed all the signs of being a top-caliber quarterback during the Niners’ 23-7 win over the Houston Texans in Week 17.

Lance looked raw, yes. But he also added elements to head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense not often seen from Garoppolo.

Garoppolo does have the experience, however. And at least initially, Shanahan seems to be focusing on Garoppolo reclaiming his starting job if he’s medically cleared from the thumb injury suffered back in Week 16, at least according to Shanahan’s post-Week 17 comments:

"If Jimmy’s a hundred percent healthy and could do everything, like perfect, then I would definitely go with Jimmy. I’m not just going to throw a guy in after one game like this, when Jimmy’s been doing it for us all year. I think it’s going to be hard for Jimmy to be a hundred percent, which is how most people are right now at this time of year. But Trey did a good job, if Jimmy can’t go, we won’t hesitate at all. But if we feel Jimmy can go and play confident, then Jimmy will be out there."

It’s not our decision to make. But if we could, Shanahan’s choice should be a simple one: start Lance from here on out.

Here are four reasons why Shanahan needs to start Lance for the rest of the season and (hopefully) the postseason.