Coach Kyle Shanahan is optimistic Garoppolo (ankle) will return for the "last couple weeks" of the season, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Garoppolo hasn't suited up since Week 8, when he suffered his second (and more significant) high-ankle sprain of the campaign. By Nov. 17, he had shed the walking boot on his right foot, but only this week will Garoppolo start to do individual work on a side field. Speaking of a potential return date, Shanahan noted "whether it's two games or one game or none," suggesting a decision on Garoppolo's activation from IR may depend on the 49ers' odds of making the postseason.