Lance takes it easy while on Niners practice field
Rookie QB avoids throwing to protect injured right index finger
SANTA CLARA >> Trey Lance was back at practice on Wednesday, although the 49ers were very cautious with their injured rookie quarterback.
Lance wore a wrap on his right index finger and did not throw a football during the media viewing window which lasted 20 minutes.
Lance did, however, suit up to simulate taking snaps. He visually went through progressions and mimicked throwing without ever holding a ball. On Sunday, he chipped a bone in his finger by jamming it on a Raiders’ helmet, and a week of rest remains the optimistic prognosis for it to heal.
The 49ers open the regular season in 10 days in Detroit.
Lance’s task Wednesday?
“Mainly listen,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He can do everything physically but we’re not going to put him in there to take snaps and do anything to his finger.
“Anytime you have a small chip, it could linger. I hope it doesn’t and I hope he’s back there next Monday. That’s the goal and he seems positive. We have to be smart with it, too.”
Jimmy Garoppolo, the projected season-opening starter, threw passes alongside practice-squad signee Nate Sudfeld while Lance shadowed them.
Shanahan declined to confirm Garoppolo as his QB1, noting: “I don’t need to announce the quarterback or the starting punt returner. I think you guys can figure it out.”
As minor as Lance’s injury appears, it’s also the most notable one through training camp and the preseason as the 49ers enjoy much better health than last year’s injury-plagued season. Not one starter has sustained a season-ending injury, though ruled out for 2021 as it stands now are wide receiver Richie James Jr. (knee), linebacker Mychal Kendricks (toe) and offensive tackles Justin Skule (knee) and Shon Coleman (triceps).
Aiyuk, Hurd issues
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk watched practice (with a ball in his hand) and did not participate because of a slight hamstring strain last week. He’s expected to practice next week.
Jalen Hurd, who’s been limited in his knee recovery the past month, warmed up on the side before team drills began.
“I’m hoping for him to be full go,” Shanahan said. “Having three days of that (workload last week) was good. We limited him today. Hopefully we can do more with him tomorrow and three big practices next week to show us he should be one of the five guys up.”
So, handling most of the receiving duties were Deebo Samuel, Trent Sherfield, Mohamed Sanu, Jauan Jennings and River Cracraft.
Travis Benjamin ran on the side as he works through the concussion protocol. He and Cracraft were among 13 signed to the practice squad after Tuesday’s main-roster cuts.
Number changes
The entire 49ers’ starting secondary now has changed to single-digit jersey numbers, with strong safety Jaquiski Tartt getting in the act and donning No. 3 after earlier switching his number this offseason from Nos. 29 to 26. Free safety Jimmie Ward is in No. 1 while cornerbacks Jason Verrett (No. 2) and Emmanuel Moseley (No. 4) also went the single-digit route.
“They got something going on there,” Shanahan said. “I know they like it and if it makes them play better, I’m a fan of it.”
Running back Elijah Mitchell also changed up, going from Nos. 49 to 25. “The running back room said, ‘Man, you’ve got to change your number,’ “said Mitchell, a sixth-round draft pick who said cut-down day was “very nerve-wracking for me.”
Health watch
Working on the side were linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hip), cornerback Dontae Johnson (abductor) and defensive linemen Arik Armstead (maintenance day) and Kevin Givens (groin).
Defensive linemen Nick Bosa (knee), Dee Ford (back) and Javon Kinlaw (shoulder, knee) all looked like full participants. Only Kinlaw played in the preseason among that trio, doing so only in Sunday’s win.
Linebacker Azeez AlShaair wore a no-contact jersey as he continues to deal with an apparent elbow injury.