Team news: Los Angeles Rams | Page 24

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo told reporters Wednesday that he believes he can play Week 17 despite a torn thumb UCL and fractured bone in his throwing hand. Garoppolo does not need surgery at this time.

Related Player: Trey Lance

Jimmy G is not stupid and knows an open door for Lance means his starting gig could go away in San Francisco. It is admirable that he wants to play, but we have seen multiple times this season that an injury to a QB's throwing hand is a major issue and he could do more damage with one hit. This is a situation to monitor heading into Sunday.

As for Trey Lance, HC Kyle Shanahan said the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft has made good progress while running the scout team The coach pointed to improved decision-making and accuracy, among other things.

Related players: Jimmy Garoppolo

"This last month of Trey has been his best consecutive four weeks at practice since we've had him," Shanahan said. "He's had a number of good days and he's had some bad days like most guys do, but as far as his consistency and stuff, I feel this last month has been his best." As for Jimmy G., Shanahan indicated the decision will come down to not only how Garoppolo feels but also how he looks throwing the ball if he progresses to that stage, the story said. In a story we posted Monday, the 49ers will know more on Wednesday.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is battling an injury that could force him to miss this Sunday's matchup against the Houston Texans. On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Garoppolo sprained his thumb when he was sacked during their 20-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.

Related players: Trey Lance

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting the injury could be more serious than just a sprain. Jimmy G sat out on Monday and the team said they will see where he is on Wednesday. The Niners are in the playoff hunt and host the Texans in a later afternoon game on Sunday.

Rams TE Tyler Higbee has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Higbee's return is welcomed since the tight end position has been a zero without him. It is unknown how the virus will alter his play and snap count Week 16 at Minnesota.

Saints TE Adam Trautman has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Related Player: Nick Vannett

If Trautman cannot play Week 16, Vannett will be the only viable tight end available for New Orleans.

Rams’ RT Rob Havenstein, TE Tyler Higbee and SS Jordan Fuller were the three LA starters that did not test out to be able to play tonight vs. Seahawks, per source. They’re out tonight.

Related players: Kendall Blanton

With Higbee out in Week 14, Blanton filled in and caught two balls for 29 yards on three targets. If you waited to use Higbee, Blanton is at least a desperation play.

Rams placed CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Tyler Higbee on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Both players out of tonight’s game vs. Cardinals.

Related players: Kendall Blanton, Jacob Harris

Two big losses in what is a key game for the NFC West. With Higbee out, Blanton and Harris are next up on the depth chart. Higbee had a 5-48-0 line last week against the Jags while Blanton caught one pass for six yards.

Among the various current mysteries surrounding the Greatest Show-offs on Turf is whether quarterback Matthew Stafford is or isn’t currently injured.

According to the injury report, he isn’t. According to ESPN, he is. According to Stafford, he’s “feeling fine” but neither he nor anyone else is currently 100 percent.

HC Sean McVay was asked about it and his quote in the story does make it seem like Stafford is dealing with some kind of injury or injuries. But as the story also added, it’s one of the stranger realities of the new NFL, which hasn’t simply cozied up to gambling but has jumped into bed with it. Inside information exists, and the league does a poor job of compelling teams to disclose the inside information regarding a player’s health — even though that inside information has a direct impact on wagering.

Jauan Jennings averaged six offensive snaps over his first seven games. That average has jumped to 30 in the last three. What’s more, it’s clear Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan are gaining trust in him. The 49ers targeted Jennings twice in the deep red zone, and he would have had two touchdowns had his knee hit the ground an inch inside the sideline on the second target. Jennings also was the target on Garoppolo’s first third-down pass — a 21-yard first down — and was worked into the trick play that resulted in a holding penalty on Minnesota’s Patrick Peterson.

Related players: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel

Jennings began the season as the team's WR5, but could end up at the team's WR2 assuming Samuel (groin) misses at least Week 13. Even when Samuel returns, Jennings could still have a role as Samuel has been used more as a running back over the last couple of weeks.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Adams was limited on Wednesday with the injury, but the return to a full practice on Thursday all but assures that he will be out there this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Adams could see a heavy dose of Jalen Ramsey on Sunday afternoon but is still our second-ranked wide receiver for Week 12.