8:30pm: With Garoppolo likely headed to injured reserve, the 49ers plan to sign veteran journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson off of the Broncos’ practice squad, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. This will be Johnson’s fourth stint in San Francisco after spending the 2012 offseason with the 49ers, constantly being signed and released by the team throughout the 2014 season, and spending the 2020 season on San Francisco’s practice squad.
Johnson has been a member of more NFL teams than he has played years in the league, playing with 14 teams over 13 years. He signed with the Broncos at the beginning of this past offseason and was temporarily on the team’s active roster after an injury to starter Russell Wilson.
He last appeared in a game last season for the Ravens when he started in place of an injured Lamar Jackson and an absent Tyler Huntley, who had tested positive for COVID-19. The Ravens lost that game despite Johnson completing 28 of 40 pass attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite his three previous tenures with the organization, Johnson has never appeared in a game for the 49ers. That trend may continue as the rookie seventh-round pick, Purdy, showed he may have what it takes to pilot the 49ers offense. Johnson is likely being brought in for emergency backup duties only, considering Purdy has spent the entire season with 49ers.
6:53pm: Following this afternoon’s win over the Dolphins that saw quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo leave in the first quarter with a reported ankle injury, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has told reporters that Garoppolo will be out for the remainder of the season, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. With season opener starter Trey Lance already on season-ending injured reserve with his own ankle injury, the 49ers will be down to third-stringer Brock Purdy to lead the team for the remainder of the season. 
Shanahan explained to reporters that Garoppolo actually suffered a broken foot, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, telling the media, “He’ll be out. He’ll need surgery. (He) broke a few things in there.”
Heaps of drama surrounded Garoppolo’s situation coming into the season as the veteran quarterback sought a departure from his team of the last six years. In the end, San Francisco decided to hold on to Garoppolo, hoping his trade value would increase as the season went on. The move would prove to immediately benefit the 49ers when their chosen starter to open the season, Lance, suffered a broken right ankle and underwent season-ending surgery.
Since taking over, Garoppolo has a 7-3 record as the 49ers’ starter, helping to lead the team to an 8-4 record overall, good for first place in the NFC West and a current No. 4 seed in the conference. Garoppolo has done what he always seems to do as a starter, which is simply win football games.
When Garoppolo left today’s game after only one drive, the 49ers had to reach deep into their pockets. This year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Purdy entered Week 13 as the only other quarterback on San Francisco’s active roster. Purdy not only performed admirably but was a huge contributor in helping the 49ers pull out a win against a Dolphins team that would currently sit atop the AFC if it had won today.
San Francisco faces an intriguing stretch over the last five weeks of the season. Next week will pit the seventh-round rookie against the all-time veteran as the team hosts Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Then a short week will send them to Seattle for a Thursday night matchup against the Seahawks that could very well decide the division. They’ll come back home to face a red-hot Commanders team before closing the season with a road trip to Vegas and another division matchup versus the Cardinals.
As for Garoppolo, a quick recovery is paramount for the 31-year-old. The injury could not have come at a worse time for Garoppolo as reports came out just this morning that the veteran was open to a new contract that would keep him in San Francisco. A perceived value that was riding high at an estimated $35MM per year may take a hit now due to the injury.
Upcoming updates should reveal the severity of the damage and the seriousness of the surgery, giving us an idea of what an expected timeline for recovery will look like. With Lance likely on track to be ready for the 2023 season, Garoppolo may find himself, once again, questioning his place in San Francisco.
*Cue sad music
What kind of comment is that? SMH
Of course his foot is broken, SMH they just started clicking too.
Yikes. Hate to see it for him and the team both. Not only a waste of a really fun roster, but they traded away their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th only to be all in on Brock Purdy. Absolutely brutal.
Purdy looked pretty good today.
I thought so too!
Purdy good pun you passed up there, Bud.
Dude only catches the bad breaks.
Playing QB for the Niners is as dangerous as drumming for Spinal Tap…
At least he hasn’t spontaneously combusted……yet. Genius as usual Hubcap. Thank you sir
49ers should pluck Josh Johnson off the Broncos practice squad. Jeff Driskel and Anthony Brown also come to mind as potential targets
Cam Newton is out there.
Slim picking really as who to bring in to be the backup but Josh Johnson seems to be the best available.
Garrett Gilbert!
Newton has never been the same since he got the Covid during the pandemic season of 2020.
Besides, the 49ers clinched their win over Miami with defense.
You called that one
It’s time to give Tom Savage another look.
2nd paragraph is kinda funny. Like the 49ers haven’t been looking to get rid of Garoppolo for a couple years now.
Disappointing to hear shedding light on injury to grab a thumbs up or a laugh. Let’s work on being a touch decent
This really sucks. As a Chiefs/AFC fan, I was hoping to see SF in the Super Bowl.
I’m neither an sf or Jimmy G fan but agreed- this stinks
Wanna trade a nice draft pick for Mitch Tribisky or Mason Rudolph?
You’re 6 weeks too late. Dumbest comment of the thread though. Congratulations
Pretty amazing how Johnson has been with SF 4 times now and only now MAY get into a game for them.
Broken foot. No problem for the coach some think is a “ Genius.” You know being under 500 for a 6 year career. No worry or Rat Jr will figure it out and probably go undefeated just old Colin Cowturd
Are you speaking in tongues yep?
1. Jimmy G was never good enough to win a championship as he makes to many mistakes in critical moments.
2. He’s always been injury prone.
3. Purdy didn’t look as good as Jimmy G. But considering he was facing one of the best teams in the NFL he looked great.
4. Maybe make a call to Drew Brees, Ben Rothlesberger, or that Old Chargers/Colts QB?
Phillip Rivers? Offer a 7th rounder to the Colts for Nick Foles.
The trade deadline has past.
Ben is probably 340 lbs. by now.
Maybe they should look at OBJ to play QB. He may have mobility issues but he does have 2 career passing TDs against 0 picks.
This team has the worse luck with injuries. Just wasting great defenses and stacked rosters because of constant injuries. It’s a shame. They finally were getting healthy the last few weeks and it showed them of course a huge blow. Purdy did look good. Especially for not playing all season or getting reps with the first team offense. Maybe they will be fine, maybe Purdy will look even better after getting practice with the first team for a couple weeks. The team is talented enough, just look at Manning and the Broncos. They won it all and Manning was not very good. Still sucks though, as a 49ers fan it’s actually depressing seeing all these injuries non stop. That being said, the 49ers really should sign Baker as their backup, he’s better than Josh Johnson that’s for sure. Not saying start him, I’d still roll with Purdy but if he gets hurt or in 2-3 weeks he just looks terrible give Baker a shot, got nothing to lose and again he’s better than Johnson.