Williams, Lance, Kinlaw remain out
Team missing OT, QB in offensive prep
SANTA CLARA >> Left tackle Trent Williams missed his second straight practice Thursday, raising suspicions of him possibly missing Sunday’s game when Jimmy Garoppolo returns as the 49ers’ starting quarterback.
Williams already was dealing with an elbow issue when an ankle injury was added to his dossier on Wednesday’s participation report.
Williams’ ankle is considered a sprain and he is “day to day,” according to a team spokesman. Williams took part in Monday’s bonus practice and showed no issues other than wearing an elbow brace.
Meanwhile, rookie Jaylon Moore would be in line to replace Williams when the 49ers (23) host the Indianapolis Colts (24) on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”
“He’s very exciting to a lot of guys, including to rest of his position group, they really love the guy,” offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said of Moore, “because they know he has what it takes to be a pro and he keeps getting better.”
A fifth-round pick from Western Michigan, Moore’s only offensive snaps (22) came once Williams fell awkwardly in the Oct. 3 loss to Seattle. Moore started the 49ers’ first two preseason games, and he relieved Williams after 10 snaps in the preseason finale.
Williams, in speaking with the media Monday, didn’t signal anything was seriously wrong with him — or the 49ers, in general.
“When you look at pros and cons, and look at what may have cost us to why we’re sitting where we are today, our list of wrongs is not that long,” Williams said.
“A lot of teams have a lot of things going wrong right now,” Williams said. “But for us, it’s nothing we can’t handle. We’re not waiting on somebody to walk through the door. We have all the talent we need in-house.”
The Colts have just 12 sacks this season, with two apiece coming from former 49ers star DeForest Buckner, Al-Quadin Muhamed and Kemoko Turay. Turay (groin) did not practice Thursday and fellow defensive end Kwity Paye (hamstring) was limited after missing Wednesday’s practice. QUARTERBACK OUTLOOK >> Garoppolo’s calf injury responded well enough from Monday’s and Wednesday’s practices that he looked unfazed in warmups, at which time he’s shown a desire
to work on his long-ball accuracy, too.
Rookie Trey Lance remained out of practice, as Shanahan intimated might be the case once Lance got diagnosed with a mild knee sprain from his Oct. 10 starting debut at Arizona — a 17-10 loss in which he had 16 carries.
Lance’s absence likely will mean Nate Sudfeld’s elevation from the practice squad for a second straight game.
STILL NO KINLAW >> Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw hasn’t practiced all week because of a knee injury that Shanahan said has paused his second-year development.
Without Kinlaw, the 49ers would likely rely on D.J. Jones, Maurice Hurst, Kentavius Street and Zach Kerr to patrol the interior against the Colts and top rusher Jonathan Taylor (472 yards, 5.4 yards per carry).
Kinlaw missed the season opener and two games last season because of a knee injury he sustained in a December loss at Dallas, an injury that required offseason surgery.
HASTY PRACTICING >> JaMycal Hasty continues to work back into the running back rotation as the 49ers opened his practice window this week, meaning they can activate him off injured reserve before the next three games. Elijah Mitchell remains the probable starter with fellow rookie Trey Sermon in a relief role.
COLTS INJURIES >> Free safety Julian Blackman tore an Achilles in Wednesday’s practice and is expected to become the Colts’ 20th player to go onto injured reserve this season. Fellow safety Andrew Sendejo (concussion) was limited Thursday.
Also not practicing Thursday was wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (quadriceps), cornerback Rock YaSin (ankle), offensive lineman Braden Smith (foot, thumb), tight end Jack Doyle (rest) and running back Jordan Wilkins (nonfootball injury).
Linebacker Darius Leonard (ankle, knee) was limited.