Here’s why 49ers should let Lance start a pivotal Rams game

What’s the takeaway from Trey Lance’s second career start with the 49ers?

It was a mixed bag for the rookie, but that’s to be expected from a player that’s spent the entire season — save for two weeks ahead of his starts — operating as the scout team quarterback during the week while Jimmy Garoppolo practiced with the starters.

There was good from Lance on Sunday during the 23-7 victory over the 4-12 Houston Texans: a field goal drive at the end of the second quarter in which he drove 56 yards over 38 seconds before halftime, a dime over the middle to George Kittle in the fourth quarter and a deep touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel on a familiar play-action roll out that was similar to a preseason touchdown he threw to Trent Sherfield..

Lance on Sunday added 31 rushing yards on eight carries, though he didn’t rely on his mobility as a crutch like he did frequently during his first start against the Arizona Cardinals during Week 5. The idea the 49ers pushed during the week that he’s improved as a passer held up. He averaged 10.8 yards per attempt Sunday after 6.6 in his starting debut Oct. 10 in Arizona.

“I feel like I’m father along and I’m continuing to get better with every practice, every rep I take,” Lance said.

There was also some bad: a secondquarter interception coming before the Texans’ only touchdown of the game, the first five possessions resulting in zero points, a fourth-down incompletion to Brandon Aiyuk in scoring territory on a pass that was thrown to Samuel, and the general uneasiness of a first-year player making his first start in front of home fans.

Lance wasn’t always decisive, and the plays that required him to get rid of the ball quickly went more smoothly than others that required time to read the field. Even his first touchdown pass to a wide-open Elijah Mitchell in the third quarter was thrown like a wobbly shot put.

But overall, the stat line paints a rosy picture. Lance completed 16 of 23 (70%) for 249 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and 116.0 passer rating. He was sacked just once.