Trey Lance wasn’t sporting a splint on his injured right index finger Monday, but the rookie quarterback still wasn’t throwing a football six days before the 49ers’ season opener at Detroit.

Related players: Jimmy Garoppolo, Nate Sudfeld

As the story puts it, that wasn’t quite the progress the 49ers were hoping to see. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said last week they hoped he could return to full practice Monday after he suffered a small chip of a bone in his finger during the preseason finale against the Raiders on Aug. 29. Lance participated during individual drills Monday by practicing his dropback and footwork but not making throws. He did grip a football, which he did not do last week, during a drill near the start of practice, the story went on to say. Garoppolo, at this point, looks like he's a safer play. Lance was expected to at least play a handful of plays, according to the story, but if he can't get back to practice that wouldn't be a lock. Sudfeld is the team's third QB.

49ers’ QB Trey Lance has a small "chip" in his finger and is expected to miss about a week, per HC Kyle Shanahan.

Related players: Jimmy Garoppolo

This may quiet the rotating QB talk for a bit at least. Other outlets say it's a microchip injury in one of his fingers, but the team didn't indicate which finger it is. The injury is considered worse than a jammed finger, according to Shanahan. He can't take snaps right now but the hope is he'll be back next Monday.

“Whether it’s in their mind or not, that’s up to them,” HC Kyle Shanahan said. “But we’ve got two guys who can play. And we’ve been doing it in practice a little bit, wanted to do it out there in the game. And I think it’s always going to be an option.”

Related players: Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance

The basis of the story was it was fun to watch. The players were interviewed and agreed it was fun. But realistically both would probably rather play every snap and be the QB1 vs. alternating play-to-play, like was done at times against the Raiders in preseason Week 3. It's also not fun for fantasy owners wondering who to plug in lineups week-to-week. Because Shanahan said this could be an option, fantasy owners may have to wait this out a little bit before inserting either QB into their Week 1 starting lineups. At this point, maybe the 49ers aren't going to let Lance just sit on the bench and take it all in.

I asked Kyle Shanahan specifically if the QB dynamic has changed much since he opened camp saying Jimmy Garoppolo is the clearer starter.

His answer: "No. I haven't seen that. I would love for it to be more and more each week. But I think the situation's pretty similar right now."

Related players: Trey Lance

Kawakami broke it down even further, saying his interpretation is Garoppolo is going to start Week 1, and he put it as a 75% chance now. He thinks Lance is going to start at some point this season and feels very confident about that.

49ers head coach told reports Friday that rookie QB Trey Lance will play 'situationally.'

"That doesn’t mean he’s go be the starter or anything," Shanahan said. "But he’s going to get plays.”

Taysom Hill is nodding his head in approval.

Trey Lance is the future for the 49ers, much to Jimmy Garoppolo's chagrin. Lance also has something Jimmy G wishes he had - excellent rushing capabilities. Shanahan also said Lance will get first-team reps so the offensive line can get used to working with him.

What Shanahan did Friday was add gasoline to the Trey Lance fire, and we are here for it.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan doesn’t currently have plans to give Lance first-team reps.

Related players: Jimmy Garaopollo

Shanahan says that the 49ers have two more days offensive install — 7 total, and today is 5. He repeats that he doesn’t anticipate Lance being able to look better than Garoppolo before the season opener.

The notion that Trey Lance could overtake Jimmy Garoppolo early in the season, which seemed so farfetched on draft day and after OTAs, appears far more realistic today.

In short, Lance has been aggressive, which has to please head coach and play caller Kyle Shanahan, who — you may have read about this once or twice — prefers an always-attacking mentality, the story went on to say. Keep in mind, there have only been four practices, and Shanahan likely will be stingy in his praise of Lance. He’ll want to keep the pressure on the rookie the story said. This is certainly worth watching.