Garoppolo won’t practice Wednesday but hopes to return on Thursday
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan gave a pre-practice injury report for Wednesday. Here’s a look at the players who will not suit up:
Jimmy Garoppolo (calf)
George Kittle (calf)
Trent Williams (shoulder
Samson Ebukam (hamstring)
K’Waun Williams (calf)
Limited
Javon Kinlaw (knee)
Elijah Mitchell (shoulder)
Josh Norman (chest)
Garoppolo said he is preparing as if he’ll play — save the practicing during the week. He said he will have to battle through his calf injury on Sunday if he is cleared to play and that the decision to suit up could go right up until game time.
Jimmy said Kerry Hyder’s knee hit his calf as he was pushing off to throw on the first series, and that’s when the injury occurred: “It’s not terrible now. Kind of got in an awkward position. “I’d be battling through it probably. We’ll take it day by day.It hurts. But it is what it is right now.”
Jimmy said he’s hopeful he can return to practice Thursday.
Kyle Shanahan says Jimmy Garoppolo’s calf is feeling better today and that the doctors recommended to “give him another day, he’s got a chance.” Without Garoppolo practicing, Trey Lance will receive all of the reps with the starters today.
So, Garoppolo’s calf is better, but not well enough to practice, but it isn’t bad enough to rule him out against the Cardinals game on Sunday.
Shanahan said, “If Jimmy’s ruled out, I’ll rule him out… It’s always advantageous if you don’t know what quarterback you’re planning for, but if there’s no chance, I’ll rule him out.”
As for Lance, here’s what Shanahan said after watching the film on him:
“He’s developing. That’s what you’ll see when he gets out to gameday… thought when he got thrown into battle there… thought he got more comfortable as the game went… thought there was a lot of encouraging stuff.
He’ll see some things he’s never seen. But he can compensate with his athletic ability and how good of a football player he is.
“I thought he did better than he did in the preseason. I know he got off to a rough start with his first two passes, but he calmed down, played poised after that. Wasn’t perfect, but… he didn’t lock up. He was playing football, and he gave us a chance to win.”
The 49ers are in a bit of a predicament. Lance will get valuable reps with the starters if Jimmy can’t practice. Does that mean Shanahan puts together a game plan for Lance since he practiced all week? Or is the hope that, by Sunday, Jimmy’s calf is much better and you roll with the quarterback you named a starter to open the season?
If it takes until game time to determine whether Garoppolo will play, letting him rest this Sunday with the 49ers bye week coming up feels like the most practical thing to do.
As for Stephon Gilmore, Shanahan said, “We looked into all of it, but obviously we didn’t go through with it.”