Rookie Trey Lance could make his second career NFL start on Sunday against the Houston Texans, as fellow 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo deals with a thumb injury. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo would be re-evaluated after working with the training staff on the practice field Wednesday. According to reports out of Santa Clara, Garoppolo didn't practice with his teammates.
While Shanahan initially told reporters Monday that Garoppolo sprained his thumb on a second-quarter sack last week against the Tennessee Titans, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Jimmy G tore a ligament and suffered a fracture in his thumb. Shanahan clarified the injury diagnosis Wednesday.
"I've been told that he does not surgery right now," Shanahan said. "It is a Grade 3 sprain. The reason they never mentioned to me a fracture because it really didn't have much to do with it. On the third-degree sprain that he has on his UCL ligament, when that is ripped up, it pulled off a little fleck of his bone. Whether that has anything off of it -- you can call it a fracture, you can call it a chip, you can call it something -- but that really isn't what's keeping him out. It's the third-degree sprain that he has. But because he's not moving and stuff, he doesn't need surgery. He has a chance to play this week."
Before heading out to the field, Garoppolo told reporters that he felt confident he'd be able to start.
“We’re going to go test it out today and see how it feels and go from there,” Garoppolo said. “But I feel confident today. … It’s a torn ligament, though, so it is what it is. The pain, it’s not going anywhere. I know what that feels like. It’s about being confident going out there and do what I normally do with the football.”
Garoppolo added that he hasn't thrown a football since Thursday night, when Denico Autry wrapped up his right hand on a sack. Garoppolo said he felt "multiple reasons" to not make a big deal about the injury at the time.
"That's just not me," Garoppolo said. "Even when it happened on the sideline, I tried to be low-key about it and just tell the trainers. I knew there was cameras and everything, I wasn't trying to put that out there. It's not about me, it's about the team, honestly."
If Garoppolo is out, Lance would find himself with a golden opportunity near the end of the regular season. The 49ers can lock up a playoff berth with a victory over the Texans and a loss from the New Orleans Saints. Houston is 4-11 this season while playing without quarterback Deshaun Watson and dealing with a rotating cast at running back. Though the Texans topped the Rams 41-29, they figure to be a very beatable opponent for Lance. The 49ers are currently 12.5-point favorites to win.
"He'll get more playing time and more practice this week," Shanahan said. "If he plays, he'll get a whole 'nother game. I'm sure it won't be perfect, but I think he's been doing a better job in all areas where he's got practice in."
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The 49ers used three first-round picks and a third-rounder to move up to select Lance at No. 3 overall, but he’s been limited to just six quarters of meaningful action this season while backing up Garoppolo. Lance took over for Jimmy G at halftime of Week 4, before making his first career start in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Lance went 15-of-29 for 192 yards and an interception through the air while carrying the ball 16 times for 89 yards and taking some tough contact. The 21-year-old dual threat suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss two games after a bye week.
"He's developed a routine throughout this year, that it's no different for him, when he's the backup or the starter," Shanahan said. "I think he's excited because he's really in the week, there's a possibility he could start. And he gets to definitely start at practice today, so I know he's definitely excited for that."
While Garoppolo has an 8-6 record as a starter, many fans have been unimpressed with his low-risk style of play. Garoppolo has completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,494 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions
