Former Rams HC Mike Martz Rips 49ers QB Trey Lance: 'Doesn't Have Good Skills'
Sep 13, 2022
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 17: Head coach Mike Martz of the San Diego Fleet looks on during the first half against the Birmingham Iron in an Alliance of American Football game at SDCCU Stadium on March 17, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/AAF/Getty Images)
Former St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz wasn't impressed with what he saw from Trey Lance in Week 1.
In a video for The 33rd Team, Martz gave a sharply critical assessment of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback. He said Lance is "not a great passer" and "doesn't have good skills," adding he thinks Jimmy Garoppolo could be the new starter by Week 4.
Martz was an architect of the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" offense, first as the offensive coordinator and then as the head coach. The 71-year-old has a well-earned reputation as a guru on that side of the ball.
But his opinion of Lance feels unnecessarily harsh given the terrible conditions Sunday in Chicago. The steady rain made it tough to throw the ball, and the soggy field meant running the ball wasn't much easier.
Lance's final numbers (13-of-28 for 164 yards and one interception; 13 carries, 54 yards) aren't great, but it was tough to expect better under the circumstances.
NFL Twitter Loving Geno Smith's Epic Response to Critics Writing Him Off
Sep 13, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 12: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Lumen Field on September 12, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith surprised many by leading his team to a 17-16 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.
After the victory, Smith had a succinct message for his critics: "They wrote me off. I ain't write back, though!"
"That's off the dome right there," Smith said, per The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. "That's straight bars right there."
Smith was at his best in Monday's victory, finishing 23-of-28 for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He completed his first 13 passes and went 17-of-19 in the first half alone.
A 10-year veteran, Smith has had a unique NFL career. After a stellar run at West Virginia, he was projected to be one of the most coveted quarterback prospects in the 2013 draft. However, he fell out of the first round after he reportedly rubbed some teams the wrong way during the predraft process. The New York Jets selected him with a second-round pick.
Starting immediately for a rebuilding team, Smith struggled mightily as a rookie and threw 12 touchdowns with 21 interceptions. His sophomore season wasn't much better, as he threw 13 scores and 13 picks. Smith's third season in 2015 was derailed when he suffered a broken jaw during a locker room altercation with defensive end IK Enemkpali over a $600 unpaid debt. He suffered a torn ACL the following year.
Smith spent time as a backup for the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants before signing with the Seahawks in 2020, where he revitalized his career. He appeared in four games in 2021 with three starts and threw for 702 yards, five touchdowns and an interception.
The 31-year-old was named the starter for the 2022 season after beating Drew Lock in a quarterback competition this offseason. Monday's performance proved that Seattle made the right decision.
The Seahawks will be back in action Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Geno Smith Impresses NFL Twitter as Seahawks Beat Broncos in Russell Wilson's Return
Sep 13, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 12: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Lumen Field on September 12, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
It might have taken 10 seasons, but it looks like Geno Smith finally unlocked his potential.
The veteran quarterback led the Seattle Seahawks to a 17-16 win over the Denver Broncos in a 2022 season opener on Monday Night Football. Smith put forth one of the best outings of his NFL career, finishing 23-of-28 for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
The 31-year-old was nearly immaculate in the first half, completing his first 13 passes. He showcased why he was named Seattle's starter over Drew Lock, who was acquired as part of the blockbuster offseason trade that sent longtime Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson to the Broncos. Wilson finished 29-of-42 for 340 yards and a touchdown.
Smith's performance drew massive praise on social media, with many believing he finally reached the form that was expected of him coming out of West Virginia in 2013.
Geno Smith started the night by completing his first 13 pass attempts.
Per @EliasSports, the only other quarterbacks since 1990 to complete each of their first 13 passes in Week 1 are Gardner Minshew (2019) and Jim Kelly (1990). pic.twitter.com/F1uLh2LGSR
I’m genuinely happy for Geno Smith because Black QBs rarely get second chances to start if the first one doesn’t go well, even if it’s not all on them, and he’s showing out tonight.
The last time Smith was a full-time starter was during his first two seasons in the NFL when he was with the New York Jets. Those were a couple of dreadful years, but he showed in recent seasons that he matured into a dependable player.
Smith filled in admirably when Wilson went down with a finger injury last season. In four games with three starts, Smith threw for 702 yards and five touchdowns against one interception, completing 68.4 percent of his passes.
If Smith can continue playing like he did Monday, the Seahawks will surprise. Seattle was expected to be in a rebuild, but Smith proved he can lead the team to success.
Smith and the Seahawks will try to keep the momentum going Sunday in an NFC West matchup at the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks' Jamal Adams Suffered 'Serious' Quad Injury vs. Broncos, Pete Carroll Says
Sep 13, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 21: Jamal Adams #33 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on November 21, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams suffered a "serious" quad injury during Monday night's 17-16 victory over the Denver Broncos, head coach Pete Carroll told reporters after the game.
Adam Jude of the Seattle Times noted during the game that he was carted away from the trainer's tent as he left the field in a scene that "does not look good."
It didn't take long for Seattle's defense to miss him, as Russell Wilson found Jerry Jeudy for a 67-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter when he was off the field.
Durability has been something of a concern for Adams of late after he appeared in 12 games in each of the last two seasons.
The Seahawks sent the New York Jets two first-round draft picks as part of the trade package to land Adams ahead of the 2020 season, and he was a Pro Bowler in his first year with the NFC West team.
However, his stretch of three straight Pro Bowls ended in 2021 as he tallied 87 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptions for a 7-10 team. It was a far cry from his peak in 2018 when he posted 115 tackles, 12 passes defended, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery.
His Pro Football Focus player grade was 89.8 in 2018 and 87.9 in 2019 for the Jets but just 64.2 in 2020 and 60.1 in 2021 for the Seahawks.
Adams' time in Seattle has been disappointing to this point, and the 2022 campaign figured to be an important one as he attempted to turn things around. An injury in the season opener is a difficult blow for the player and team.
Look for the Seahawks to turn toward Ryan Neal for more playing time while Adams is sidelined.
49ers Would Listen to Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Offer From Cowboys, Kyle Shanahan Says
Sep 12, 2022
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 speaks with head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Divisional Round Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers are willing to engage in discussions centered around a Jimmy Garoppolo trade.
Asked about whether he'd entertain sending Garoppolo to the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Kyle Shanahan reiterated the franchise's general stance.
"Just like all players, we’ll listen to anybody on anything," he told reporters. "That never changes for any player or coach."
ESPN's Todd Archer reported Monday that Cowboys star Dak Prescott underwent thumb surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
With Cooper Rush now deputized as the starting quarterback for the next two months, many immediately thought a move for Garoppolo presented Dallas with a straightforward solution.
However, Shanahan's comments don't necessarily signal the extent of San Francisco's appetite for a swap.
Are the Cowboys a potential trade destination for Jimmy Garoppolo? I'm sure the 49ers will check in. Or the Cowboys will check in. And of course Garoppolo has a no-trade clause. Also: Garoppolo has a lot of value to the 49ers as QB2. We shall see.
The Niners could've traded Garoppolo at any point in the offseason and declined to do so. They also could've waived him ahead of Week 1 and saved a lot of money in the process.
Instead, the 30-year-old renegotiated his contract to make $6.5 million guaranteed and count for just under $14 million against the salary cap.
Now, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch hold almost all of the cards.
Even if they have no plans to bench Trey Lance at any point this year, Garoppolo is a great insurance policy in the event Lance gets hurt. If he were to go, the 49ers would be looking at seventh-round draft pick Brock Purdy as the backup QB.
Is a Garoppolo trade worth it if you're only getting a late Day 3 draft pick in return?
The Cowboys could be facing a similar dilemma. Prescott's injury presents major issues, yet he's still set to return at some point this year. Do they want to part with valuable draft compensation for a player who's only going to start for maybe half the season?
This could be a case of throwing good money after bad, too.
A 19-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 was a sobering way for Dallas to open the season, and the result laid bare how there are issues that extend beyond the quarterback position.
Although the idea of starting Rush isn't ideal, upgrading to Garoppolo may not be enough to drastically alter the Cowboys' trajectory.
Kyler Murray on Cardinals' Blowout Loss to Chiefs: 'They Kicked Our Ass'
Sep 12, 2022
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals got off to a rough start to the 2022 season after suffering a 44-21 blowout loss at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.
After the game, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray didn't mince words when assessing how the game went.
Murray completed 22 of 34 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns while adding a team-high 29 rushing yards in Sunday's loss before being pulled with 1:47 remaining in the game. He failed to keep up with his counterpart, as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was nearly pristine with 360 yards and five touchdowns on 30-of-39 passing.
Mahomes was playing his first NFL game against Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who coached him in college at Texas Tech. The student schooled the teacher in this case, as Mahomes opened with passing touchdowns on each of Kansas City's first three drives. The Cardinals defense struggled mightily and gave up nearly 500 yards of total offense, surrendering 128 yards on the ground and being outgained by the Chiefs 488-282.
Murray was playing in his first game since being signed to a $230.5 million, five-year contract this offseason. He was missing a couple of key players on offense, as wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is suspended for the first six games because of a PED violation and wideout Rondale Moore was inactive with a hamstring injury. Arizona was also without star defensive end J.J. Watt, who sat out because of a calf injury.
The Cardinals will try to get back on track next week when they travel to face the Las Vegas Raiders.
49ers' Trey Lance: 'I Have a Lot of Stuff to Clean Up' After Week 1 Loss to Bears
Sep 11, 2022
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 11: Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 11, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers fell to the Chicago Bears 19-10 in Sunday's season opener at a rainy Soldier Field, but second-year quarterback Trey Lance isn't using the weather conditions as an excuse for his performance.
"I have a lot of stuff to clean up, for sure," Lance told reporters after the game. "But man, I'm excited. I've still got my head up. I'm excited to get ready to go next week."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan discussed Lance's performance:
"I thought he did some good things coming out. I thought everything was pretty smooth from the beginning. I would have loved to hit on that one down in the red zone that we had Kroft, but he came back and made a big play the next series. I thought he did some good things, but the way it got there at the end, everything kind of fell apart there."
Lance completed 13-of-28 passes for 164 yards and one interception. He also had 13 carries for 54 yards in the loss.
San Francisco's lone touchdown of the afternoon came on a six-yard rushing score by Deebo Samuel, who carrried the ball eight times for 52 yards. He also caught two passes for just 14 yards.
While he started two games last year as Jimmy Garoppolo's backup, Sunday's game marked Lance's first as San Francisco's leading quarterback. And even though he struggled, there's certainly a lot to look forward to moving forward.
The 49ers committed to Lance as their starting signal-caller shortly after the 2021 campaign came to a close. They attempted to trade Garoppolo over the summer, but his shoulder surgery and salary cap hit before he restructured his contract didn't make for much interest from opposing teams.
San Francisco selected Lance third overall in the 2021 NFL draft out of North Dakota State.
The 22-year-old completed 57.7 percent of his passes for 603 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions in addition to rushing for 168 yards and one score in six appearances last year.
Lance will look to improve in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium and help San Francisco grab its first win of the season in front of the Red and Gold faithful.
NFL Twitter Drags 49ers' Trey Lance for Late-Game Struggles vs. Bears
Sep 11, 2022
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) looks to pass against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance did not live up to expectations in his first start as the team's QB1.
Lance finished 13-of-28 for 164 yards and an interception as the 49ers lost 19-10 to the Chicago Bears in Sunday's Week 1 battle.
Though San Francisco went up 10-0 early, the offense couldn't add to the lead, and the Bears eventually pulled in front.
It put pressure on Lance, who stumbled when playing from behind:
Niners turn ball over on downs as Trey Lance's pass on fourth-and-8 sails over head of fullback Kyle Juszcyk with 3:38 to play. It's raining very hard at this point of game.
After making just two starts as a rookie, it's clear the 2021 No. 3 overall pick has room to grow in his second NFL season.
Lance could still have a short leash with last year's starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, waiting on the sidelines. It will keep the pressure high for the home opener in Week 2 against NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks.
49ers' Jeff Wilson Jr., Tyrion Davis-Price Fantasy Outlook After Eli Mitchell Injury
Sep 11, 2022
San Francisco 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (22) reacts to fans after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell left Sunday's game with a knee injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest, per ESPN's Field Yates.
That left Jeff Wilson Jr. atop the depth chart for the remainder of Sunday's matchup with the Chicago Bears, and called into question for fantasy players who might emerge as the team's top running back option should Mitchell's injury be serious enough to cost him significant time.
Right now, Wilson is absolutely the safest option for fantasy players, in large part because there is a ton of uncertainty after him on the depth chart. While Jordan Mason was active on Sunday, both Tyrion Davis-Price and Tyler Allgeier were healthy scratches.
Wilson, 26, came into Sunday with 1,265 career rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in his four seasons, largely serving as a backup option for the team. That doesn't make him the sexiest of picks, but his longevity also suggests that head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers trust him.
Elijah Mitchell done for the day with a knee injury
I expect Jeff Wilson to take over as lead back but keep an eye on rookie Jordan Mason
If you want to go for the bigger splash, however, Mason is the current front-runner for the high-risk, high-reward waiver claim. While Davis-Price was a third-round pick this offseason, the fact that he was a healthy scratch is a major concern.
Betting the lack of a deep passing game played a part in Danny Gray being inactive since it's a monsoon outside.
Running back seems pretty straightforward. Jordan Mason is better than TDP at this point. not sure why else you have Mason active.
Same reason rookie RB Ty Davis Price is inactive -- too far down the depth chart without playing special teams. Undrafted RB Jordan Mason is on coverage/return units, so he suits up over TDP as RB3. https://t.co/aPmhXeX8Ym
Remember Trey Sermon, the Niners' 2021 third-round pick who was all over fantasy radars last season and failed to make an impact before he was eventually released this summer while Mitchell thrived?
Well, Davis-Price's healthy scratch has major Sermon vibes, while Mason—an undrafted free agent—has bigger Mitchell vibes.
The other factor to consider is that the Niners used superstar Deebo Samuel as a de facto running back last season when the injury bug bit and were already giving him major backfield touches in Week 1 against the Bears.
His ability to factor in that role somewhat hurts the upside of both Mitchell and Mason as well.
Still, the safe selection if Mitchell's injury proves to be a lengthy one is Mason. He'll have flex appeal as the team's starter. Mason is a bigger gamble, no doubt, but if you want to swing for the fences, he's the pitch to hit.
Elijah Mitchell Ruled Out for 49ers vs. Bears With Knee Injury
Sep 11, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 30: Elijah Mitchell #25 of the San Francisco 49ers runs after making a catch during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell suffered a knee injury in Sunday's season opener against the Chicago Bears and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, the team announced.
Mitchell had six carries for 41 yards before exiting.
It's a tough blow for Mitchell, who was in and out of the lineup in his rookie year because of knee, shoulder and rib injuries. The sixth-round pick out of Louisiana also missed time with a concussion.
In 11 games last season, he rushed for 963 yards and five touchdowns and also caught 19 passes for 137 yards and one score.
In addition, the 24-year-old underwent knee surgery in April but fully recovered in time for training camp with the Niners in July. After having surgery, he told reporters that he wanted to become a more complete running back.
"Really, just to improve on everything, on things that I need to work with," Mitchell said. "Really to just build on what I did last year and just to become that perfect back."
With Mitchell atop San Francisco's depth chart, he's expected to carry much of the load this year. However, when he misses time, Jeff Wilson Jr., Tyrion Davis-Price and Trey Sermon should see more playing time.
