More information about the injury to Jimmy Garoppolo has been revealed. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback suffered a torn ligament and chipped bone in his right thumb. Those are details that head coach Kyle Shanahan failed to mention to reporters during a conference call after Monday’s practice. Garoppolo did not participate in Monday’s bonus practice.
When a reporter asked Shanahan if Garoppolo suffered a fracture, and the coach stated the quarterback sustained a right thumb sprain at the end of the second quarter of last Thursday night’s 20-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He added that the 49ers would re-evaluate Garoppolo on Wednesday. Shanahan said of the injury: “It didn’t feel great today. He wasn’t able to throw today, and we’ll see how it is on Wednesday. Hopefully, it will get better.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that Garoppolo suffered a UCL tear and fracture, which would be a more serious injury than the coach disclosed. Rookie Trey Lance will make his second NFL start if Garoppolo needs to sit out. Shanahan said of Lance: “I think this last month with Trey has been his best consecutive four weeks of practice since we’ve had him. He’s had a number of good days, and he’s had some bad days like most guys do. But as far as his consistency and stuff, I feel this last month has been his best.”
The 49ers sit at 8-7 and are currently the sixth seed in the NFC playoff picture. San Francisco is preparing to host the Houston Texans on Sunday and finish the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams.
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