After the San Francisco 49ers' 23-7 victory over the Houston Texans, head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted that fans might see rookie quarterback Trey Lance make his third NFL start. Next weekend will be an all-important Week 18 playoff-implicating matchup against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams.
"I'm just glad we took care of business," Shanahan said. "So we've got our second playoff game next week."
Shanahan, of course, is referring to the 49ers' must-win matchups in these final two weeks of the regular season, looking at both as playoff games for his squad. The team could not afford to lose either.
So who will be the quarterback in that next playoff game on January 9th? After all, Lance did just earn his first career NFL win.
"I mean, if Jimmy is at 100 percent healthy, and can do everything perfect, then I would definitely go with Jimmy," Shanahan responded. "I'm not just going to throw a guy in after one game like this when Jimmy's been doing it for us all year. I think it's going to be hard for Jimmy to be 100 percent, which is how most people are right now at this time of year.
"But Trey did a good job. If Jimmy can't go, we won't hesitate at all. But if we feel Jimmy can go and play confident, then Jimmy will be out there."
At this point in the season, almost no one is 100 percent. The team has already endured 16 games of punishing NFL action. They now have just one more game to win. With next weekend's matchup so crucial to the 49ers' playoff hopes, does Garoppolo need to be 100 percent for Shanahan to feel comfortable playing him against the Rams?
"No," Shanahan said. "No one on our roster really needs to be 100 percent."
But obviously, Garoppolo might have to prove this week that he is better suited, health-wise, to start over Lance. It will be an interesting week leading to the regular-season finale.