Jimmy Garoppolo threw the football on Tuesday, trying to see where he is in his recovery from a torn ligament and chipped bone in his right thumb. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback spoke with reporters before Wednesday's practice and was asked how his hand feels after that throwing session.
"It's sore," Garoppolo responded. "It was a pretty good throwing session yesterday, just trying to get the motion back and everything, get it feeling where I want it to feel."
Garoppolo will participate in Wednesday's practice. Although, he will be limited. Rookie Trey Lance will get the majority of the reps, with Garoppolo receiving as many as he can endure. He'll also have an opportunity to evaluate the "tape job" the training staff has done around his injured thumb.
"I'm trying to get it back to my old motion where it's fluid and everything like that, but it will just take some time," Garoppolo said. "It's a process, but we're working in the right direction."
It's doubtful that Garoppolo will be at 100 percent before Sunday's playoff-impacting matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. No one is really sure what's going to happen. The 49ers had hoped Garoppolo would be available for Week 17's contest against the Houston Texans, despite the quarterback not practicing during the week leading to the game. Rookie Trey Lance started in Garoppolo's place.
"It's hard to explain this to people, but it's literally a day-by-day thing," Garoppolo said. "Yesterday, it felt good. Woke up this morning after throwing, didn't feel so hot. Each day will be different. It's just about rehabbing it, getting the swelling down, getting the motion back, all those little things."
Garoppolo is battling. He plans to do whatever he can to be on the field with his teammates against the Rams. If the 49ers win, they are guaranteed a playoff berth. A loss would mean depending on the Atlanta Falcons to beat the New Orleans Saints. Both games will take place simultaneously.
"Whatever I can do to be out there, I'm going to be out there," Garoppolo commented. "At the same time, you've got to be smart and think about what's going to be best for the team to win. So you've just got to be smart with all of the decisions you make."
Garoppolo also offered an honest response when asked what it feels like throwing with his injured thumb.
"F--k, it hurts," he shared. "I don't know how else to describe it. It feels like the web in your hand is kind of tearing a little bit. That's probably the best way I can describe it."
