The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Divisional playoff contest against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Defensive end Nick Bosa remains in the concussion protocol, and being cleared will be a challenge due to the short week of preparation. The good news is that he returned to practice on Wednesday. Although, he was listed as a "limited" participant.
Bosa was on the field with his teammates for the pre-practice walkthrough but headed to the locker room before practice started.
Excellent sign as #49ers begin practice:
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 20, 2022
Nick Bosa has a helmet in hand as he progresses through concussion protocol pic.twitter.com/1H92vnfrcG
Bosa later returned to the Levi's Stadium field.
Bosa did return to watch practice with helmet in hand, didn't do Dline drills. Official participation list coming about 6 pm pic.twitter.com/xSPAwfg19T
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 20, 2022
"Nick, he's come along well, going through the protocol there," defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said before practice. "Hopefully, he'll be fine by the end of the week. We definitely need him out there."
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and linebacker Fred Warner were both full participants in practice after being limited on Tuesday. Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group notes that Garoppolo was "throwing with zip" and "no sign of pain." The quarterback is dealing with injuries to his right thumb and right shoulder.
#49ers Jimmy Garoppolo throwing with zip, no sign of pain despite sprained shoulder, thumb. I have no doubt he's starting at #Packers on Saturday night in #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/66q8SO34JC
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 20, 2022
Garoppolo is far from 100 percent but Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports the quarterback is expected to play on Saturday. Garoppolo's thumb injury didn't stop him from playing in the 49ers' regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams or this past weekend's playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys.
"He's got the thumb injury, which is going to need surgery after the season," Rapoport said Wednesday on NFL Network. "It is a torn UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in his throwing thumb. ... It sounds like every time he's throwing the ball, he gets a sharp, searing pain in his thumb, which seems terrible, and it's not even my thumb."
Before practice, tight end George Kittle said, "Jimmy, he could have tapped out and said, 'Hey, I can't go anymore. You guys are on your own,' but he didn't. He took a week off and came back and played at a very high level since. That's what you appreciate about him. He doesn't give up, just keeps grinding, and he's continually leading this team to victories and giving us opportunities to play more football."
Below are Wednesday's practice participation reports for both the 49ers and Packers, which were provided by the 49ers Communications staff.
San Francisco 49ers Wednesday Practice
Limited Participation in Practice
DL Nick Bosa (concussion), LB Marcell Harris (Achilles), CB Ambry Thomas (knee), DL Jordan Willis (ankle)
Full Participation in Practice
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (right shoulder, right thumb), LB Dre Greenlaw (groin), S Talanoa Hufanga (knee), RB Elijah Mitchell (knee), LB Fred Warner (ankle)
Green Bay Packers Wednesday Practice
Did Not Participate In Practice
TE Marcedes Lewis (not injury related - resting player), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back)
Limited Participation in Practice
CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder), T David Bakhtiari (knee)
Full Participation in Practice
LB De'Vondre Campbell (elbow), RB Aaron Jones (knee), QB Aaron Rodgers (toe), T Billy Turner (knee)