KEY POINTS

  • Jimmy Garoppolo may see a bitter end to his stint with the 49ers following a thumb injury
  • Kyle Shanahan is forced to decide on whether to take chance on Garoppolo or turn to Trey Lance
  • Garoppolo is unlikely to be accurate and efficient when he returns

 

Without question, Jimmy Garoppolo is a good quarterback for any NFL team if he is healthy.

But as most know, the two-time Super Bowl champion has had his share of injuries, something that has hampered him from flourishing.

Garoppolo sustained a thumb injury in the game against the Tennessee Titans when defensive lineman Denico Autry slammed him to the turf for a sack in the second quarter of the 20-17 loss

The aforementioned injury will likely keep him out from five to six weeks.

While he could still return, his performance is likely to be compromised and place the San Francisco 49ers in a bind.

Garoppolo did not participate in the Niners’ practice last Monday, December 27 and is due to be re-examined today, Dec. 29.

Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that Garoppolo felt the soreness and was not able to throw.

“It didn't feel great [Monday],” Shanahan said. “He wasn't able to throw, and we’ll see how it is on Wednesday. Hopefully, it'll get better.”

Even if the Illinois native returns, accuracy and efficiency are highly questionable.

“It’s hard enough being an NFL quarterback and, then, you have a thumb that doesn’t allow you to throw accurately. Even a couple of milliseconds here and there throws off timing, throws accuracy off,” UCSF orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nirav Pandya said via NBC Sports.

Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers
Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to throw the ball during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field Getty Images | Julio Aguilar

Hence, the future of Garoppolo may be murky from hereon.

Shanahan is likely to turn to Trey Lance, someone that many see as the leading candidate to be the team's starting quarterback a few years from now.

There is a chance that Shanahan could still take a chance on Garoppolo. But along with that comes the risk of sacrificing the overall push of the team which could have dire consequences.

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