Kyle Shanahan admitted this week that it will be challenging for Trey Lance to beat out Brock Purdy to be the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.

Both Lance and Purdy will be returning from injuries this offseason, though Lance is expected back earlier. 

“I think it’s going to be harder for him to [win the starting QB job],” Shanahan said Wednesday at the league’s annual meeting. “Brock played eight games. Trey had that job going into last season and if he would’ve played eight games like that, no one else would’ve been able to come in and beat him out. But with Brock being hurt, it does open him up. It does give him a chance.

“I don’t know how Brock’s going to come back. I don’t know exactly when he’s going to come back. So, I don’t have an exact answer for that. But right now, because he is hurt, it’s nice to focus on Trey, it’s nice to focus on Sam and see how they do at OTAs and — most likely — see how they’re playing leading into training camp because I think it will take some time for Brock.”

hanahan said Lance is doing well in his rehab and has been throwing.

“He’s been traveling around, working with some quarterback coaches throwing the ball and I’m excited to get into Phase I [of the offseason program] and we can start working together,” Shanahan said.