Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t appear to be the answer for San Francisco’s complex quarterback problem.
On Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said he doesn’t “see any scenario” in which Garoppolo is in the 49ers’ 2023 plans. That would leave Shanahan with second-year QB Trey Lance and rookie sensation Brock Purdy.
“I know we have two starters on our team right now that I believe we can win with,” Shanahan said. “So when you have that situation, you’re not that eager to go looking around.”
It will end Garoppolo’s tenuous time in San Francisco. The 31-year-old arrived via trade from New England and was beset by numerous injuries, poor play and constant trade rumors. Then the franchise drafted Lance with the third-overall pick in 2021. Garoppolo admitted he was surprised to still be with the 49ers at the start of this season after losing the starting position to Lance.
Garoppolo replaced Lance after he faced a season-ending injury to his right ankle in Week 2, played in 11 games, starting in 10, and threw for 2,437 yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions. A foot injury in Week 13 led to Purdy’s show-stealing heroics.
Purdy led the team to the NFC Championship before San Francisco lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 31-7 in a game that left him with a torn UCL that could take up to six months to heal.
“[Returning] really wasn’t on my mind to be completely honest,” Garoppolo told reporters earlier this season. “I was training out here, I had to be here, so I was here for that reason. I was just trying to get my body right, get my shoulder right. I felt very confident out there.”
Where Garoppolo lands remains to be seen but several teams are in need of a veteran arm, including the Jets, Titans, Dolphins, Panthers and Commanders.
