The San Francisco 49ers nearly clinched a win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. However, they left 37 seconds on the clock, which was just enough time for Aaron Rodgers to work his magic. It was a gut-wrenching loss for San Francisco. It's time to continue our NFL takeaways series with a 49ers Week 3 takeaway.
This is a talented 49ers team and they're bound to be in the playoff hunt late in the season. We saw some intriguing situations building in San Francisco though and their lineup will become more clear as the season progresses.
Many were hopeful that Trey Sermon would supplant himself as a key playmaker in the offense with Elijah Mitchell sidelined. Instead, he was outplayed by Kyle Juszyk who is a fullback. On top of that, we saw Brandon Aiyuk much more involved with the offense which bodes well for his season outlook. Lastly, the fan base is excited to see Trey Lance under center, however, the starting job belongs to Jimmy Garoppolo. With that said, here are three 49ers' Week 3 takeaways from their game against the Packers.
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49ers Week 3 Takeaways
3. The backfield belongs to Elijah Mitchell once he's healthy
This was a prime opportunity for Trey Sermon to show why the 49ers selected him in the third round. Green Bay has struggled against the run this year, making this a moment for Sermon to emerge as the 49ers' top running back.
Instead, he didn't do much with his workload. He managed to save his day with a touchdown, but it's likely not enough to maintain consistent playing time. Elijah Mitchell seems to be the featured back in the 49ers committee. Once he's healthy, Mitchell should be able to take the bulk of the carries and serve as a consistent starter in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
2. Brandon Aiyuk should slowly get more involved in the offense
After a weird Week 1 and a sluggish Week 2, Brandon Aiyuk played a much larger role in the 49ers matchup against the Packers. He's a versatile playmaker who is dangerous with the ball in his hands. After an odd start to the season, Aiyuk reeled in four receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown.
Not the most eye-popping stat sheet, but it shows Brandon Aiyuk's role will be expanding. The 49ers need him to elevate their game to the next level. With George Kittle and Deebo Samuel taking up a ton of attention, Aiyuk should be able to take advantage in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on him, as he could quickly become the high-flying playmaker we all know he can be.
1. Jimmy Garoppolo will start every game this year, barring injury
At the end of the day, everybody wants Trey Lance. He was taken third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and 49er fans were hoping to see him under center immediately. However, Jimmy Garoppolo has played well, forcing the coaching staff to keep him in as the starter for now. After throwing for 257 yards and two touchdowns, Garoppolo nearly led his team to a victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Lance sees the field on certain packages but it's clear this kid needs time to develop. He played a minimal amount of games during his collegiate career and needs extra time to adjust to the professional level. This is a best-case scenario for the 49ers, as Jimmy Garoppolo gives the 49ers consistent play in the quarterback position while the future of the franchise develops on the sidelines. Lance will eventually be the starting quarterback, just not this year.
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