Lance will return to a backup role Sunday at the Rams with Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) active for the contest, Keiana Martin of the 49ers' official site reports.
The 49ers are turning back to Garoppolo after he showed enough in practice this week to be able to play through his sprained right thumb. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported earlier Sunday that Garoppolo also would start and not yield many, if any, reps to Lance, indicating coach Kyle Shanahan will be relying on the veteran quarterback to deliver a much-needed victory. As a result, Lance seems to be in line for clipboard duty Sunday, as he was from Weeks 7-16.
... See More... See Less
49ers' Trey Lance: Trending toward backup role Week 18
Rotowire
Lance is expected to move into a backup role for Sunday's game against the Rams with Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) -- who is listed as questionable -- viewed as a better bet to be the 49ers' starting quarterback this weekend, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Lance stepped in for Garoppolo in Week 17 when the latter was held out due to a sprained right thumb en route to 16-for-23 passing for 249 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while turning eight carries into 31 yards. Garoppolo returned to the practice field Wednesday and proceeded to put together three consecutive limited practices, splitting reps with Lance. Head coach Kyle Shanahan likely wants the experienced hand to be under center with the 49ers requiring a win to reach the postseason. Ultimately, if Garoppolo gets the nod, Lance could be relegated to clipboard duty, as he was in nine of 11 games following the team's Week 6 bye.
49ers' Trey Lance: No decision yet on Week 18 starter
Rotowire
Coach Kyle Shanahan wouldn't commit to Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) or Lance as the 49ers' starting quarterback for Sunday's road game against the Rams, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
It appears as if Shanahan won't tip his hand until closer to Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, but he added that he "feels good" where Garoppolo stands after sitting out Week 17 due to a Grade 3 UCL sprain in his right thumb and then splitting reps with Lance this week, per Wagoner. Considering the 49ers can be eliminated from the playoff race with a loss and a Saints win in Atlanta, Shanahan may opt for the steadier hand in Garoppolo if he deems him healthy enough to play. Even if Garoppolo does suit up, though, Lance still could be a part of the offense, similar to what he was early on this season. In any case, Lance's value is contingent on Garoppolo's availability, making him a huge hit-or-miss proposition for Week 18.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that he'll wait until Sunday to announce either Lance or Jimmy Garoppolo (hand) as the 49ers' starting quarterback for their Week 18 game against the Rams, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Given the importance of Sunday's game, Shanahan won't pass up the potential competitive advantage of forcing the Rams to prepare for two very different signal-callers. Shanahan said Lance will get most of the snaps at Wednesday's practice, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, with Garoppolo returning as a limited participant after sitting out last week.
