2 min read • December 27, 2021
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Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers quarterback, injured his right throwing thumb late in the second quarter on a strip-sack fumble where his thumb was bent and torqued by the defender.
Garoppolo reportedly suffered a chipped bone and torn ligament in his right thumb on the play. He did finish the game, but now, four days later, was unable to grip the ball in practice.
The 30-year-old can avoid surgery if the bone chip was not displaced, but he will to immobilize his thumb to repair the injury, which appears to be an avulsion fracture, where the ligament pulls off a piece the bone.
That opens the window for rookie Trey Lance to start his first game since a Week 5 loss to the Cardinals, and potentially finish out the season for San Francisco.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Monday – before news of the UCL tear broke – that Lance has had "the best consecutive four weeks of practice since we've had him." This seems like a setup where we're headed for a Trey Lance game.
Garoppolo not being able to grip and throw four days after the Thursday night loss doesn't bode well for his status and it seems like he will have a rough week in practice.
The 49ers (8-7) play the Texans (4-11) this Sunday in what is likely the start of a two-game audition to see if Lance can take the reigns for the 49ers in 2022.
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