SANTA CLARA – Perhaps Kyle Shanahan is trying to get a message across to any would-be Jimmy Garoppolo suitors out there.
Before Friday's training camp session, the 49ers coach was asked for the latest info on his quasi-quarterback who remains in practice purgatory. For now, Garoppolo has rehabbing his shoulder on his own at the team facility and throwing when reporters aren't around, so we're not privy to his progress. But Shanahan gave his impressions of Jimmy G with the pigskin.
"Jimmy is working out hard, throwing the heck out of the ball," Shanahan said.
Of course, Shanahan is going to say something like that, as the team holds out hope they can find a trade partner and get something in return for the 30-year-old. As much as they'd like to save $25.5 million from the salary cap, they'd probably like some draft capital in return, so long as they don't have to cover too much of his chunky paycheck.
"I'm not going to tell you guys every single thing in my head, but you can figure it out when I say we have to do what's right for this organization," Shanahan said. "And we're going to do everything we can to make it as good as possible for Jimmy, while always doing what's right for this organization at the same time."
Unless a starting quarterback gets injured elsewhere in training camp, Garoppolo's top two potential destinations seem to be the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks. For now, he's still the owner of the No. 10 jersey on the 49ers.
How's the new kid No. 5 doing while Garoppolo awaits his fate? Not great lately.
It's July 29, so the notion of hitting any NFL panic button is ludicrous, but Trey Lance has been getting baptized by the 49ers defense the past two days.
Welcome to the league.
After a solid Day 1 performance, Day 2 and Day 3 haven't been as smooth for Lance, the 22-year-old quarterback who's shouldering the weight of a five-time Super Bowl-winning franchise with a rich history of signal-callers.
During Friday's practice, 49ers strong safety Talanoa Hufanga picked off Lance deep down the middle of the field as he overthrew his intended target, and Hufanga had a cavalry of teammates running with him the other direction.
"Just gotta be instinctual," Hufanga said after strengthening his case for a starting spot. "Everybody on the defense has a role and that was my job on that play. As long as I make the play and do my job, hopefully I can be part of this defense."
Lance's worst pass of the day wobbled like a duck down the left sideline about 30 yards downfield and was nearly intercepted by Charvarius Ward, but he fell to his backside as the ball arrived and couldn't haul it in. That marked the start of a poor final drive from Lance, who proceeded to airmail George Kittle down the right sideline before holding on to the ball in a would-be sack. Even in unguarded drills at one point, Lance shook his head after delivering an uncatchable ball that zipped by George Kittle's ankles.
By unofficial counts, Lance finished 3-of-10 on the day in team drills. To be fair, those numbers were also affected by a couple of dropped passes and a play where Kittle, his intended receiver, fell to the turf before the ball arrived.
Lumps are to be expected with Lance, like Thursday and Friday's practices. We should get a better sense of where things really stand next week when pads are on and offensive linemen have something to grab on to.
It's worth noting that Nick Bosa wasn't even on the field as the edge rusher got a rest day. Offensive tackle Trent Williams took part in group drills but not 11-on-11 action in his first practice since fathering a newborn child. Arik Armstead is out for a "few weeks" with an MCL sprain in his right knee.
That's to say, let's wait a bit longer before making any snap judgements about Lance. Three training camp practices of data isn't nearly enough to make any bold declarations now.
