Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't been able to practice all week. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated on Friday that Garoppolo not throwing may have been—at least partly—by design.
The San Francisco 49ers are still hoping the veteran quarterback can start against the Houston Texans on Sunday. However, he is dealing with a thumb injury, which may mean we see rookie Trey Lance in the home finale.
Shanahan says the team hasn't necessarily wanted Garoppolo to throw, allowing the quarterback more time to heal without putting unnecessary pressure on the thumb.
"That's why we didn't have him go out there, because we were told each day that we can push it off one more, it gives him a better chance for it to stay," Shanahan told reporters after Friday's practice. "So we're trying to hold off throwing until tomorrow (Saturday), possibly Sunday."
A reporter once again asked Shanahan about Garoppolo's injury and what must happen for the quarterback to be able to step onto the field for Sunday's crucial game against the Texans. It's a fair question, but Shanahan was clearly frustrated with having to repeat himself over and over.
The 49ers coach has repeatedly told reporters in the past that he is not a doctor. Earlier in the week, after stating that Garoppolo was dealing with a thumb sprain, multiple reports later revealed the severity of the injury. The quarterback had torn a ligament and chipped a bone in his right thumb.
"I'm getting really close to never talking about injuries again. Very close," Shanahan said. "But I've told you guys everything I know. I'll try to say it the same way again. The ligament is torn. The more you can heal, the better it has a chance to relatch. The quicker you go back, the more it doesn't relatch. That's the [way] I understand [it]. So, that's about all I know."