SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Wednesday that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo won’t want surgical procedure on his damaged left foot and can have a a lot shorter rehabilitation than was feared after Garoppolo suffered the harm on Sunday.
However Shanahan stopped wanting suggesting Garoppolo’s return is a certain factor even when the Niners advance deep into the postseason. Shanahan acknowledged that Garoppolo is on a seven- or eight-week restoration timeline however famous that’s how lengthy it is anticipated to take Garoppolo to heal, not essentially to be able to play soccer.
“It is going to be a giant restoration however a lot lower than what we anticipated, which is superior information for him within the offseason,” Shanahan mentioned. “He’ll be good to go immediately, so it will not be like final 12 months. There is a means outdoors likelihood late within the playoffs or one thing like that, but it surely’s simply an outdoor likelihood. We’re not actual optimistic about that, however they did not rule it out.”
Shanahan mentioned he has not been instructed how lengthy it could take for Garoppolo to return to soccer actions however urged it could take “somewhat bit extra” than the seven or eight weeks assuming Garoppolo heals correctly in that point.
The NFC divisional spherical is in seven weeks and the NFC Championship Sport is eight weeks away, which implies the Tremendous Bowl could be essentially the most practical risk. That sport is 10 weeks away.
Within the meantime, the Niners are going to take their time earlier than making any choices on what to do with Garoppolo from a roster standpoint. They’ve already used six of their eight injured reserve returns this 12 months and have the remaining two spots earmarked for defensive deal with Javon Kinlaw and operating again Elijah Mitchell, although they do not should declare something till these gamers are prepared to start practising once more.
Which implies Garoppolo will not land on injured reserve, a minimum of not immediately. He can stay on the 53-man roster and be a weekly inactive till the Niners would possibly want the roster spot for another person.
“We have now bought to play that by ear with our complete roster,” Shanahan mentioned. “Our aim is to get to the playoffs, so we have got to verify we do the most effective factor potential for that. That is the problem with IR. Most certainly, if that did occur, he would not have the ability to come again for that, so we’ll see how these IR choices play out over the subsequent couple of weeks.”
Shanahan added that Garoppolo didn’t endure any ligament harm, which was vital in giving him a shorter timeline to get better. If nothing else, Garoppolo must be wholesome for the offseason program and enter free company with a clear invoice of well being, one thing that didn’t occur final 12 months when he had shoulder surgical procedure and the Niners had been unable to commerce him.
“I do know it is a severe harm that is almost definitely to maintain him out for the 12 months and I do know it was actually excellent news that there was no ligament harm or something,” Shanahan mentioned. “He’ll be advantageous as soon as the damaged foot heals.”
Shanahan additionally confirmed that the Niners didn’t put in a waiver declare on quarterback Baker Mayfield, including that he “feels good” concerning the Niners’ quarterback state of affairs with rookie Brock Purdy and veteran Josh Johnson as the highest two on the depth chart. The Los Angeles Rams claimed Mayfield on waivers on Tuesday.
This week’s opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, introduced up one other 49ers quarterback dialogue of the latest previous. Tom Brady, who grew up in close by San Mateo, California, was a free agent after the 2019 season and had curiosity in ending his profession together with his childhood favourite workforce.
After that season, Shanahan and workers studied Brady and thought of whether or not to pursue him however opted to stay with Garoppolo, who had simply been the starter on a workforce that fell simply brief in Tremendous Bowl LIV.
Brady was coming off one in every of his worst seasons however left the New England Patriots for Tampa Bay and went on to win one other Tremendous Bowl. Brady is fifth within the NFL in passing yards with a 16-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio as he and the Bucs come to Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
Shanahan admitted Wednesday he is shocked to see Brady nonetheless taking part in at a excessive stage at 45 years outdated.
“I would wish to say in fact not however I believe everybody since you then’re questioning, ‘When is the quantity [age] too excessive?'” Shanahan mentioned. “However now while you watch him that first week in Tampa, you are questioning, ‘What the hell was anybody ever considering?’ The dude appears the very same he did that 12 months, and he does when he comes off harm. I believe he is taking part in pretty much as good now and throwing the ball as properly now as I’ve seen anyone ever do it.”
