As part of a mailbag question, someone asked what the game plan would look like with Trey Lance under center.

I expect it will be a “Back to the Future”-type situation for Kyle Shanahan and Mike McDaniel, who had rookies at quarterback (Robert Griffin III) and running back (Alfred Morris) when they were assistants in Washington in 2012. That team led the NFL in rushing and went to the playoffs. Morris finished with 1,613 rushing yards and Griffin with 815 yards.

Related players: Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon, Jimmy Garoppolo

The story said the one big difference is Lance attempted 318 passes at North Dakota State while Griffin attempted 1,192 throws at Baylor, which points more to a run-heavy attack. Anther issue is Sermon has only been OK as a runner over two games, and even if Mitchell returns from a shoulder injury, he's a rookie as well, so there are a lot of questions with the run game. The Niners do have the luxury of a bye in Week 6.

Jimmy Garoppolo "has a chance" to play for 49ers Sunday at Arizona.

Related players: Trey Lance

The tweet went on to say HC Kyle Shanahan said, "It wasn’t as bad as we thought it might have been. Today he’s in a lot of pain and still sore. Wednesday if it’s getter better, he has a good chance." Earlier today there was a report that Garoppolo said the injury felt like someone stepped on his calf. He wasn't able to play in the second half in Week 4, giving way to Lance. Reports earlier today said Garoppolo could miss a couple weeks. The Niners do have a bye in Week 6.

It sounds like QB Jimmy Garoppolo is expecting to miss a couple of weeks with a calf injury.

Related players: Trey Lance

Garoppolo and the 49ers explained the injury as feeling like someone stepped on the back of his calf. These injuries can linger, as Rapoport said. Rapoport added Jimmy G isn't always the same player when battling injuries in his career. So for now, it's Garoppolo to the bench and Lance will start. Of course reports over the last couple of days said the 49ers weren't prepared for Lance to play after taking over for Garoppolo during the second half of Week 4. The good news the staff should have him more prepared heading into Week 5. The Niners play the Cards in Week 5 and have a bye in Week 6.

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo told reporters Sunday that he will undergo an MRI on his calf.

He added: “I hope it’s just a couple of weeks or something.” Trey Lance threw two touchdowns in a losing effort against the Seahawks on 9/18 passing for 157 yards. After a 2-0 start, San Francisco has lost two straight and visit the red hot, 4-0 Arizona Cardinals next Sunday. The 49ers have their bye in Week 6, so perhaps Garoppolo could return for San Francisco’s Week 7 Sunday night game against the Colts.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Friday that rookie QB Trey Lance should be active Week 1 at the Detroit Lions. Lance has been recovering from surgery to repair a chip in his finger.

Related Player: Jimmy Garoppolo

Shanahanigans for Week 1! A brief reprieve from them was in store with Lance hurt, but now there is the probability that he can get worked in with Week 1 starter Jimmy Garoppolo. It may be best to avoid both Week 1.

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo told reporters Wednesday he was starting Week 1 when San Francisco travels to Detroit to take on the Lions.

"Now it's official. I guess," Garoppolo said.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is unsure if Trey Lance (finger) will suit up Week 1.

Jimmy G gets the opportunity to show if he can hold off Lance as the 49ers QB. A road game against the Lions defense helps, but anything less than a complete performance could lead to Garoppolo's removal from the starting job.

Trey Lance wasn’t sporting a splint on his injured right index finger Monday, but the rookie quarterback still wasn’t throwing a football six days before the 49ers’ season opener at Detroit.

Related players: Jimmy Garoppolo, Nate Sudfeld

As the story puts it, that wasn’t quite the progress the 49ers were hoping to see. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said last week they hoped he could return to full practice Monday after he suffered a small chip of a bone in his finger during the preseason finale against the Raiders on Aug. 29. Lance participated during individual drills Monday by practicing his dropback and footwork but not making throws. He did grip a football, which he did not do last week, during a drill near the start of practice, the story went on to say. Garoppolo, at this point, looks like he's a safer play. Lance was expected to at least play a handful of plays, according to the story, but if he can't get back to practice that wouldn't be a lock. Sudfeld is the team's third QB.

49ers’ QB Trey Lance has a small "chip" in his finger and is expected to miss about a week, per HC Kyle Shanahan.

Related players: Jimmy Garoppolo

This may quiet the rotating QB talk for a bit at least. Other outlets say it's a microchip injury in one of his fingers, but the team didn't indicate which finger it is. The injury is considered worse than a jammed finger, according to Shanahan. He can't take snaps right now but the hope is he'll be back next Monday.