Shanahan optimistic Garoppolo will face Colts with Lance still sidelined

SANTA CLARA >> Jimmy Garoppolo is on track to reprise his starting role for the 49ers on Sunday night against the Colts.

Likely missing from G ar op polo’ s shadow, for the first start this season, will be Trey Lance.

Lance’s sprained left knee kept him out of practice Wednesday, as was the case Monday when the 49ers reunited after last week’s bye.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said there’s been no change in the initial diagnosis of Lance’ s left knee, in which a mild sprain was discovered the day after his starting debut at Arizona — a 17-10 loss. Lance has been told to say off his feet.

He was scheduled to do some light throwing after practice on Wednesday, Shanahan said.

“We were hoping he’d go this week. Doesn’t look like it,” Shanahan added. “I’d be surprised if he’s not ready to go next week.”

The 49ers (2-3) are on a three-game losing streak heading into their primetime game against the Colts (2-4). After that, the 49ers will visit the Chicago Bears on Halloween.

Garoppolo practiced Monday in his first action since injuring his right calf two weeks earlier. He was to be a limited participant Wednesday but Shanahan indicated they’d test Garoppolo as much as possible to see how his calf responded.

“I know he’s limited because we have to make sure he can do everything,” Shanahan said. “We’ll have a much better idea (on Wednesday). But I’m pretty optimistic about it.”

So is Garoppolo. He says his right calf feels “real good” and benefitted from his bye-week rehabilitation.

“It’s that time of year. Time to grind,” Garoppolo said.

When Garoppolo was forced out at halftime of an Oct. 3 loss to Seattle, he was asked afterward if he feared a season-ending variety such as an Achilles tear, to which he quickly downplayed it as a short-term issue of “just a couple of weeks.”

“Yeah, the ‘couple weeks thing’ was a little aggressive,” Garoppolo said Wednesday. “I’ve done it before in the past, similar injuries to that. I just knew my body and knew it’d take a couple of weeks. It was just a little pull, nothing too serious.”