Vernon Davis Says Trey Lance Will Be 49ers Starter, Brock Purdy Backup

Brock Purdy will be riding pine in 2023 — a minimum of, that’s according to Vernon Davis, who informs TMZ Sports he believes Trey Lance will be the starter in San Francisco moving forward.

The ex-49ers star made the forecast out at the Super Bowl previously this month … and it’s a hot take — thinking about Purdy definitely balled out when he substituted the hurt Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo late in 2015.

Davis made it clear, however, he merely thinks Lance is the more skilled signal-caller of the 2.

“He needs more time, and I think over time, it’s going to happen,” Davis stated of Lance. “We’re going to see him evolve and become a great quarterback.”

Davis stated Purdy, regardless of playing well in his 5 regular-season starts and the majority of the playoffs, does not have the influence to require a trade … and “should stay and be a backup.”

Former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia had an entirely various take on the dispute right before Davis made his viewpoint understood … informing us in the days leading up to the Super Bowl that if it depended on him, Purdy would be QB1 in S.F. in ’23 — not Lance.

Of course, the choice for Kyle Shanahan may boil down to basically who’s much healthier. Lance is coming off a terribly damaged leg — while Purdy is going through surgical treatment on his tossing elbow later on this month after hurting it in the NFC Championship Game.