All eyes are on the status of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The team is holding its final practice of the week, and it's the last chance for Garoppolo to see if he can go for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. If not, that would likely mean rookie Trey Lance is getting his first NFL start.
"I think today is critical," general manager John Lynch said this morning. "If it's not today, then we go with Trey."
After missing Wednesday and Thursday's sessions, multiple reports state that Garoppolo was not on the field as today's practice got underway. That likely means we'll see Lance start in his place on Sunday. Of course, we'll learn more about the quarterback situation when head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks to reporters after practice.
#49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo (right calf) is NOT on the field at start of Friday practice.
Also do not see TE George Kittle (calf).
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 8, 2021
Garoppolo is dealing with a calf injury suffered during Week 4's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Even if he could play this weekend, that doesn't necessarily mean the veteran quarterback is completely healthy.
"I'd be battling through [the pain], probably," Garoppolo admitted this week. "We'll take it, like I said, day by day, but it hurts. But it is what it is at this point."
Said Lynch: "It makes it hard when it's your right foot because that's your push foot. It just rendered him to where he couldn't play."
George Kittle's absence doesn't necessarily mean the All-Pro tight end won't play against the Cardinals.
"It's hard [for Kittle] to work through practice, but it's hard to keep George out of the game," Lynch said. "Of course, our doctors are very skilled, and you can go get more opinions to make sure that we aren't putting him at further risk by putting him out there. We'll never do that. But he's finding a way to get to Sunday."
As the #49ers stretch and warm up before practice, Jimmy Garoppolo is not on the field. Tight end George Kittle is doing rehab/conditioning work on the side.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) October 8, 2021
The 49ers own a 2-2 record, and another loss would thrust them back into the NFC West cellar. The Seahawks are there right now after losing to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
The Cardinals are undefeated and lead the division. That makes Sunday's game crucial for San Francisco if the team hopes to keep pace within what many believe to be the league's toughest division.