49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo told reporters Wednesday that he believes he can play Week 17 despite a torn thumb UCL and fractured bone in his throwing hand. Garoppolo does not need surgery at this time.

Related Player: Trey Lance

Jimmy G is not stupid and knows an open door for Lance means his starting gig could go away in San Francisco. It is admirable that he wants to play, but we have seen multiple times this season that an injury to a QB's throwing hand is a major issue and he could do more damage with one hit. This is a situation to monitor heading into Sunday.

As for Trey Lance, HC Kyle Shanahan said the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft has made good progress while running the scout team The coach pointed to improved decision-making and accuracy, among other things.

Related players: Jimmy Garoppolo

"This last month of Trey has been his best consecutive four weeks at practice since we've had him," Shanahan said. "He's had a number of good days and he's had some bad days like most guys do, but as far as his consistency and stuff, I feel this last month has been his best." As for Jimmy G., Shanahan indicated the decision will come down to not only how Garoppolo feels but also how he looks throwing the ball if he progresses to that stage, the story said. In a story we posted Monday, the 49ers will know more on Wednesday.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is battling an injury that could force him to miss this Sunday's matchup against the Houston Texans. On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Garoppolo sprained his thumb when he was sacked during their 20-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.

Related players: Trey Lance

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting the injury could be more serious than just a sprain. Jimmy G sat out on Monday and the team said they will see where he is on Wednesday. The Niners are in the playoff hunt and host the Texans in a later afternoon game on Sunday.

Jauan Jennings averaged six offensive snaps over his first seven games. That average has jumped to 30 in the last three. What’s more, it’s clear Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan are gaining trust in him. The 49ers targeted Jennings twice in the deep red zone, and he would have had two touchdowns had his knee hit the ground an inch inside the sideline on the second target. Jennings also was the target on Garoppolo’s first third-down pass — a 21-yard first down — and was worked into the trick play that resulted in a holding penalty on Minnesota’s Patrick Peterson.

Related players: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel

Jennings began the season as the team's WR5, but could end up at the team's WR2 assuming Samuel (groin) misses at least Week 13. Even when Samuel returns, Jennings could still have a role as Samuel has been used more as a running back over the last couple of weeks.

49ers QB Trey Lance (knee) will back up Jimmy Garoppolo Week 8 at Chicago after being removed from the team's injury report.

Lance will officially be around in case Jimmy G fails to get the offense going against the Bears. That said Lance is not worth starting until he replaces the veteran.

49ers QB Trey Lance (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday after missing Week 7.

Related Player: Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy G looked okay at best Monday night, giving Lance a little more of a chance to at least steal snaps under center Week 8 at Chicago.

Trey Lance is on pace to be able to practice on Wednesday, but Kyle Shanahan says that Jimmy Garoppolo will start at Chicago.

Shanahan said he did not go into game thinking that if Garoppolo had one bad game, he would not be the starter any longer, according to other reports. And Shanahan indicated Lance, when healthy, won’t be getting more first-team reps during practice, adding, “You’re not going to start rotating quarterbacks because it’s not an open competition right now.”

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if Jimmy Garoppolo would start again in Week 8 against the Bears.

“I would guess so,” Shanahan said, via Jennifer Lee Chan of NBCSportsBayArea.com. “I will watch this tape and see if guys are healthy, first of all, and know where our guys are at. It was good for Jimmy to get healthy enough to play in this game today.”

Related players: Trey Lance

While it doesn't seem like a confident answer, the story did say Shanahan added that he didn’t see “a ton of bad decisions” from Garoppolo. But the story added there weren’t enough good things either and that will keep questions about the quarterback spot front and center for the 49ers. It could be an interesting decision when Lance is healthy enough to play.

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo (calf) will start Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. QB Trey Lance (knee) will not be active.

Do not expect a lot from Garoppolo if the weather is as bad as it sounds, including torrential rain.

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo (calf) was limited at practice Wednesday, while Trey Lance (knee) did not participate. 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan wants to limit Garoppolo so he can be a full-go Sunday against the Colts.

It looks like Jimmy G is the go-to QB for now, but Lance, when healthy, will have his plays.