Trey Lance replaces injured Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers stall in second half of loss

To start the second half of Sunday's game, Trey Lance was on the field for the San Francisco 49ers while Jimmy Garoppolo stood without a helmet and an earpiece.

It wasn't just for a play, either.

Lance started the second half against the Seattle Seahawks. Garoppolo was dealing with a calf injury.

Lance probably didn't do enough to make Kyle Shanahan consider a permanent switch. Lance did hit a wide-open Deebo Samuel for a 76-yard touchdown, and did direct a late touchdown drive when the 49ers trailed by 15, but the Seahawks pulled away and won 28-21.

Lance's final line wasn't bad: 9-of-18, 157 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 41 yards, including a nice scramble on fourth-and-10 to keep the drive alive. But Samuel's touchdown boosted Lance's final line. Lance was fine, especially for a rookie coming in cold for his first extended playing time, but he was inconsistent. He probably needed to play much better to make the 49ers coaching staff consider benching Garoppolo going forward.

The 49ers might not have a choice though. Garoppolo said afterward he might miss a couple weeks.

Garoppolo hadn't played poorly before the injury on Sunday, with 165 yards and a touchdown in the first half, along with one interception.

Garoppolo hadn't done anything to lose his job to Lance, the third overall pick of the draft this year. Lance has a chance to make an impression and perhaps keep the job, but he'll have to play better than he did Sunday.