One person particularly eager for this weekend's matchup is general manager John Lynch, who is looking forward to reconnecting with Lance and his family.
"I'm a huge fan of Trey," Lynch said Thursday morning on Bay Area radio station KNBR. "He was class throughout."
The 49ers traded a significant haul of draft capital to move up to the No. 3 overall pick in 2021 and select Lance, a decision that is still viewed as one of the biggest misses of the Shanahan-Lynch era. Injuries and the rise of Brock Purdy ultimately cut Lance's San Francisco tenure short, and the team dealt him to the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 2023 season.
This offseason, Lance joined the Chargers, where he is expected to serve as QB2 behind Justin Herbert.
"I'm really excited what's going on for him down with the Chargers," Lynch added. "It seems like a new environment has spurred a great opportunity for him, and he's making the most of it. So, huge fan of Trey, his family. Hopefully, we get a chance to see them all, and pulling for him, always."
While Shanahan hasn't been able to evaluate Lance's preseason performance closely, he echoed Lynch's support for the young quarterback.
"I'm pulling for Trey. I love Trey," Shanahan said. "One of the best people I've been around, and I really hope it works out for him."
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