DECEMBER 11: Despite the team’s decision to keep Garoppolo on the 53-man roster, there is little chance he plays again this season, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms. Rapoport hears that Garoppolo may not be ready to return to game action until three months from the date he suffered the injury, a timeframe that would put the quarterback at full strength when free agency in March, but not quite in time to have an impact on the 49ers’ fortunes this season.
DECEMBER 9: San Francisco has lost its top two quarterbacks this season — one to a season-ending ankle injury and the other to a foot ailment that is likely to end his season. While Trey Lance will not return before the 49ers’ offseason program, the door slightly ajar to Jimmy Garoppolo to factor into this season again.
Garoppolo avoided a Lisfranc injury, and a subsequent report indicated he will not need surgery. This would put a recovery in time for a return late in the playoffs on the table, though Kyle Shanahan did his best to minimize this scenario’s likelihood. But John Lynch said the team does plan to keep Garoppolo on its 53-man roster.
“What I can tell you, as of right now, we’re not going to move Jimmy to IR,” Lynch said during an interview with KNBR’s Paul McCaffrey and Markus Boucher (via 49erswebzone.com). “I think we’re just going to carry him on our roster, and we’re going to kind of see how this rehab process goes. There’s a natural healing process that has to take place.”
Lynch confirmed no tendon tears occurred but noted the team will not rush Garoppolo back to simply increase its chances of winning a sixth Super Bowl. The 49ers worked with Garoppolo on a trade this offseason, but the parties reached a solution in late August to reunite. Shanahan approached Garoppolo about the compromise shortly after training camp began, and after the longtime San Francisco starter did not find a trade partner, they agreed on a reunion. It appears the sides will work together and prioritize Garoppolo’s long-term interests after his latest injury as well.
Garoppolo’s restructure prevents the 49ers from franchise-tagging him in 2023. Barring an extension — which was in play prior to the injury — the 31-year-old passer is headed toward free agency come March. Still, Lynch did not slam the door shut regarding a January return. Garoppolo’s seven- to eight-week timetable would line up with either the divisional round or the NFC championship game.
“I think there was a lot of good news in that it wasn’t the Lisfranc. There weren’t torn tendons and all that,” Lynch said. “There’s a healing process that has to take place. How quickly it will heal, that’s in the good lord’s hands, and so we’ll sit back and see. I think we were encouraged, but I think Kyle also said it’s also highly unlikely. It’s a big ask.
“Jimmy’s got a really bright future and a lot of years in front of him. We’re not going to put him in a bad position. So we’ll continue to consult with the doctors and let them kind of guide that decision. But there was some encouraging news earlier this week.”
This will be a long time for the 49ers to carry a player on their active roster they do not deem likely to play again this season. San Francisco’s IR situation did become complicated a few weeks ago, however, and Elijah Mitchell‘s second MCL sprain this year will limit the NFC West leaders’ options regarding injury activations.
The 49ers have already activated Jimmie Ward, linebacker Curtis Robinson, Mitchell (after MCL sprain No. 1), Azeez Al-Shaair, tackle Colton McKivitz, defensive lineman Jordan Willis and Jason Verrett. After the league gave teams unprecedented freedom to activate players on and off IR in 2020 and ’21, it put an eight-activation cap on such moves this year. Players activated from teams’ PUP, NFI and IR lists are grouped together under this formula, giving the 49ers — who also have defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw on IR and just saw D-lineman Hassan Ridgeway suffer a pectoral strain that will cost him six to eight weeks — in a tight spot. Ridgeway remains on San Francisco’s active roster.
The 49ers signed Josh Johnson off the Broncos’ practice squad, bringing the team- and league-hopping QB back for a fourth time. But this year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, will be tasked with steering the ship to the playoffs. Garoppolo’s potential return will be a key NFC subplot during this span, should the 49ers remain alive by mid-January.
Fix the IR let the best players play. What abuse are they trying to prevent? Stashing players?
“Jimmy’s got a really bright future and a lot of years in front of him”.
And Lynch has a really bright future as a stand up comedian.
Watching Baker Mayfield last night makes Shanahan’s “I like the guys we have” comment even more ridiculous
So what should he have said? We hate the guys we have? I love that Baker was burnt trash and then has one good game and it’s oh how ridiculous is Shanahan for not claiming a guy who a team with waiver priority claimed. The only ridiculous comment is by you.
NFL really needs to revamp the rules regarding injured players. Kind of ridiculous that you get hammered with injuries and can’t even bring back everyone once they are able to play.
I think they are just experimenting right now. Once they adopt an 18 game schedule they’ll have a better idea of how to handle injury protocols and roster limits will likely be increased as well.
I think everybody’s right on this one. I am happy Baker got that win. He’s one person who really cares about winning and has gone through a lot of fire.
Jimmy’s awesome. He’s the only backup QB that’s ever threatened Tom Brady’s job, comes to SF where they handle him slighter warmer than chopped liver and the guy still goes out there with a smile and does business.
I think the 49ers have a good thing going but the card table is looking smarter than the player at that front office this year. They’re damn lucky to even be in this conversation right now.
Agree with your last statement. Article headline could have been shortened to those first four words.
LOL, yeah. I haven’t followed their team that closely, but they sure are playing injuries really close to the wire.