Kyle Shanahan says Jimmy Garoppolo may be cleared to be on the sidelines for the 49ers’ next home game

Nothing makes San Francisco 49ers headlines faster than a Jimmy Garoppolo sighting. Well, maybe a 49ers win, but those seem fewer and farther between.

The injured 49ers quarterback was seen observing Wednesday's practice from the sideline. In itself, that may not be significant news. It was, however, the first time the media got a glimpse of Garoppolo without crutches — a sign of progress during his recovery from a torn ACL.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan joined KNBR on Wednesday night and was asked about the Garoppolo sighting.

"Today was his first day allowed on the practice field," Shanahan said on the "Tolbert & Lund" show. "I think he's still got a couple of more weeks before we let him on the game field."

General manager John Lynch said last week that he noticed Garoppolo around the 49ers' facility without crutches. The last time the majority of the media saw the quarterback, he was still getting around with the use of two crutches.

"Jimmy just got off his crutches I want to say the day before we left on our bye week," Shanahan said. "I want to say Tuesday after the Monday night game. I think he might be able to be at the next home game. I don't keep up with that rule. For people to give him junk over it is completely ridiculous."

The 49ers next home game will be a December 9 matchup against the Denver Broncos.

As for the people giving Garoppolo "junk," Shanahan was referring to a comment by former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan, who criticized the quarterback during that Monday night game for being in a Levi's Stadium suite and not on the sidelines with his teammates.

Lynch explained on KNBR last week that the criticism was unjustified. Garoppolo had not yet been cleared by the team's medical staff to be on the sidelines during a game.

"Jimmy wants to be down there more than anyone," Shanahan continued. "I think it's pretty important that you don't have your franchise quarterback or anybody else on the roster sitting down there on crutches with people going all over the place."

You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.