Garoppolo could start Sunday

Trey Lance’s marching orders are to prepare for first career start.

It just may not actually come Sunday, when the 49ers visit the Arizona Cardinals.

Jimmy Garoppolo’s calf contusion ultimately could decide which way the 49ers go, either with him reprising his starting role or bequeathing it to Lance, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick.

“It does mean (Garoppolo) has a chance. It wasn’t as bad as what we thought it might have been,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of Garoppolo’s injury Monday on a media conference call. “Today he’s in a lot of pain and still sore. Hopefully by the time he comes in Wednesday and it’s better, then he’ll have a good chance.”

Garoppolo didn’t return after halftime of Sunday’s 2821 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and that thrust Lance into his first extensive action as a pro, with mixed results.