SANTA CLARA -- 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took part in limited practice Wednesday for the first time since he sustained a torn ligament in his right thumb nearly two weeks ago.
Garoppolo threw warmup passes before practice and appeared to be throwing the ball with velocity and accuracy. Prior to practice, coach Kyle Shanahan said rookie Trey Lance would likely take most of the first-team practice snaps.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Garoppolo was inactive for the 49ers’ Week 17 game against the Houston Texans due to a Grade 3 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in the thumb on his throwing hand. He remains a possibility to play Sunday in a crucial game against the Los Angeles Rams but said the condition of his thumb is difficult to predict.
“Any injury, you're definitely not 100 percent,” Garoppolo said before practice. “It's one of those things that it's hard to explain this to people, but it's literally a day-by-day thing.
“Yesterday, (I) felt good. (I) woke up this morning after throwing, didn't feel so hot. So it's just, each day will be different. It's just about rehabbing it, getting the swelling down, getting the motion back, all those little things.”
Running back Elijah Mitchell, the 49ers’ leading rusher, did not practice Wednesday due to a knee condition that kept him out of action for three games. He returned to action and rushed for 119 yards on Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst returned to limited practice.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers opened the practice window for cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu and safety Tavon Austin. Those players remain on injured reserve but could be activated to play in Sunday's game.
The club added rookie cornerback Deommodore Lenoir to the reserve/COVID-19 list. He became the fifth 49ers defensive back on the list, joining Jimmie Ward, Ambry Thomas, K’Waun Williams and Dontae Johnson.
Lenoir can still test out and be available to play on Sunday. But because he goes on the list later in the week, the others have better chances of being eligible to play in Week 18.
RELATED: Garoppolo's status unclear as 49ers' prep work for Rams begins
Here are the participation reports for the 49ers and Rams from their Wednesday practices . . .
49ers practice report
Did not practice: LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), DE Nick Bosa (not injury related - resting player), C Alex Mack (not injury related - resting player), RB Elijah Mitchell (knee), T Trent Williams (elbow)
Limited: QB Jimmy Garoppolo (right thumb), LB Dre Greenlaw (groin), S Talanoa Hufanga (knee), DT Maurice Hurst (calf), S Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder)
Rams practice report
The Rams held a walk-through practice on Wednesday, so the following is an estimation of what participation would have been for a full practice.
Did not practice: DT Aaron Donald (not injury related - resting player), LB Leonard Floyd (not injury related - resting player), CB Jalen Ramsey (not injury related - resting player), DT A'Shawn Robinson (not injury related - resting player), T Andrew Whitworth (not injury related - resting player)
Limited: S Nick Scott (thumb)
Full participant: RB Cam Akers (Achilles)