49ERS QB DEALS WITH BAD THUMB
Jimmy Garoppolo injured his right thumb in San Francisco’s loss at Tennessee last week and his status for the 49ers’ game this week is in doubt.
Garoppolo missed practice Monday because of the injury suffered in the first half of last Thursday’s loss at Tennessee and coach Kyle Shanahan said the team would have a better idea about his availability later in the week for Sunday’s game against Houston.
The 49ers (8-7) currently hold a wild-card spot in the NFC.
“It’s a thumb sprain, so I think you guys know how those are,” Shanahan said. “It didn’t feel great today. He wasn’t able to throw today and we’ll see how it is on Wednesday. Hopefully it’ll get better.”
Various news outlets later reported that Garoppolo had ligament damage and a fracture.
Shanahan said Garoppolo got hurt on a sack in the second quarter when he was driven to the ground but stayed in the game. Shanahan said he believed the injury played a role in the interception in the third quarter that set up Tennessee’s first touchdown.
Garoppolo was able to lead a game-tying drive, but San Francisco lost 20-17 to the Titans.
If Garoppolo is unable to play, rookie Trey Lance would get his second start of the season. The Niners traded three first-round picks to draft Lance third overall in April, but Lance has only played five snaps in garbage time since starting in Week 5 at Arizona.
Nagy awaits fate
Matt Nag y is operating as though he’ll be the Bears’ head coach at least through the end of this season.
It’s an assumption much easier to make, even with a 510 record, considering the way the Bears rallied under difficult conditions in Sunday’s 25-24 comeback win over the Seahawks.
They continue to play hard and coach as if there will be more after this season for the coaching staff, even if it looks bleak.
“So really, as we know going into these final two games, not being able to make the playoffs, we have an obligation to do that — that’s it, plain and simple,”
Nagy said. “If I’m not doing that, then I’m letting someone else down on this team, whether it’s a player or coach. It’s just real simple; that’s not going to happen with me.
“I, and we, all owe that to each other for today and for this week with the Giants and finishing out this week on a high note trying to get a win and then doing it again in the final game of the season.“
A mess in Washington
Ron Rivera insisted he had not seen video of the sideline fight between Washington defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne and felt no need to seek it out.
“From what the players have said, they’re good with it,” Rivera said. “It was like two brothers fighting and they’ve moved on.”
The veteran NFL coach was busy watching the game, instead, and that’s understandable: The 56-14 blowout loss at the Cowboys gave him plenty of problems to deal with. A third consecutive defeat dashed Washington’s playoff hopes, and Rivera hopes his team responds well to the latest dose of adversity.
“If we don’t learn from it, if we don’t understand exactly what it means and all that stuff, then it’s a waste of time,“Rivera said.
Colts, Panthers get hit
To Colts coach Frank Reich, it was just a matter of time before his team would be adding a few players to the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
The Colts placed safety
Jahleel Addae, cornerback T.J. Carrie, linebacker Malik Jefferson, running back
Marlon Mack and tackle
Braden Smith on the list Monday. Smith has been a key member of the offensive line that has helped Jonathan Taylor lead the league
rushing. Cornerback
Chris Wilcox went on the practice squad COVID-19 list.
“It’s interesting that since we had more unvaxed players than the average around the league that we were one of the last teams to (test) positive,” Reich said.
The Panthers sent all of their players home from Bank of America Stadium after six more players tested positive for COVID-19. That brings the total number of Carolina players on the COVID-19 reserve list to 13.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said the decision to send players home was made “to stem the tide” and get things under control.