Jimmy Garoppolo injury update: QB’s timeline just got a lot clearer
By John Buhler
Jimmy Garoppolo may potentially return for the San Francisco 49ers in time for the Super Bowl.
Should the San Francisco 49ers win the NFC, there is a chance that Jimmy Garoppolo could dress for the Super Bowl.
Despite losing two starting quarterbacks to injury this season, the 49ers have been hotter than the sun over the last three months. Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy has yet to lose a game as the 49ers starter. While he should start in Super Bowl 57, assuming the 49ers get past the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, do not rule out Garoppolo being healthy enough to practice and back up Purdy.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that while Garoppolo is not dressing for the NFC Championship Game, recent scans of his injured ankle indicate he could be ready to practice as early as next week. Keep in mind that there is a two-week gap between the conferences’ respective title bouts and the Super Bowl, which will be held in Glendale, Arizona in 14 days.
#49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo won’t be active today, but sources say based on scans of his ankle this week, he’s finally at a point where practicing is possible. There will be obvious risks if he actually has to play, but if SF wins, practicing then being the backup is conceivable.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 29, 2023
This is utterly fantastic news for the 49ers’ chances of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy this February.
Jimmy Garoppolo injury update: 49ers quarterback could return for Super Bowl
Look. This is Garoppolo’s final season in the Bay Area. He is on an expiring contract. One way or another, the 49ers are either going to keep on rolling with Purdy or see if a healthy Trey Lance can reclaim the starting job. However, Garoppolo has played in a ton of big games in his NFL career, as well as having backed up Tom Brady on two of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl title runs.
What this comes down to is if Purdy should struggle in the first half of the Super Bowl vs. the AFC winner, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan could, in theory, go to Garoppolo as Nick Saban did in two championship games for Alabama. He won a national championship going to Tua Tagovailoa, and then went back to Jalen Hurts a year later to win an SEC Championship, both over Georgia…
Ultimately, this is all about putting the 49ers’ best foot forward, should they even get to the Super Bowl. By the time they get to Arizona, San Francisco should have a better feel on if Garropolo can practice, or conceivably play. Only two games separate the 49ers from their first Super Bowl championship since 1994. However, they must beat two elite teams to make that dream a reality.
Under normal circumstances, Garoppolo’s season would be done, but this is the Super Bowl, baby!
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