Tight end George Kittle returned to the practice field this week and continues to work his way back from a broken cuboid bone in his foot. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is going to take a little more time in his recovery from a high-ankle sprain. Although, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch remains hopeful that fans will see both on the football field again before the season's end.
Lynch joined KNBR on Thursday and discussed his quarterback and tight end. Fans may be wondering what the point of a return might be. The playoffs are a long shot at best, even if the 49ers win out. The general manager was asked what will go into the decision to play his two stars. Will a loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday alter the team's plan?
"There's a lot of different factors," Lynch told Tom Tolbert and Mark Willard. "... First and foremost, they have to be cleared. I think we'll get to a place with both those guys where they will be cleared, and there will be a decision to make.
"I'm not going to lie to you. Us taking care of business and mathematically staying in this thing would go a long way to us having interest in those guys playing because if not, yes, they're paid to play football, they love to play football. You'd be a little more inclined to (play them), though, if we still have a chance to be in it because they're both terrific football players. They both mean a lot to our team."
Lynch acknowledges that Kittle is ahead of Garoppolo in his recovery, which is obvious from his return to practice. However, other factors go into the decision of whether or not to play Garoppolo.
Kittle's broken bone has healed well, and the 49ers feel that the chances of him reinjuring the foot are minimal.
"Jimmy, the problem is the alternative or the consequence if it goes bad, he might have to have some surgery," Lynch explained. "And we just don't want to go there if we don't have to.
"He has made tremendous progress ... He is making great progress, and he continues to. It's just there will be a decision there, and I think, yes, this weekend will factor into that decision, and at least have some part of it."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.