SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Except for what San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan would call a shocking development, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has played his last catch of the 2020 NFL season as he continues to work his way back from d ‘a high ankle sprain.
That doesn’t mean, however, that Garoppolo has played his last game as a Niner.
Asked on Monday if he expects Garoppolo to be his starting quarterback again in 2021, Shanahan reiterated that he did and went into detail about what he will have in his off-season approach with him and his overall position.
“Yeah, I think Jimmy will be our quarterback next year,” Shanahan said, echoing what he said after Garoppolo sprained his ankle a second time on Nov. 1.
At the time, Shanahan left some room for a possible quarterback shuffling, noting that no squad decisions would be made for next season so far from when he is scheduled to start.
When Shanahan said again on Monday that he believed Garoppolo would be the team’s quarterback in 2021, he was asked why he is so sure of this given the size of Garoppolo’s contract and his injury history.
Once again, Shanahan explained, as he and CEO John Lynch usually do, that they will always look at all the options that can improve the team.
“Nothing can be said for sure,” Shanahan said. “Don’t sit here and make promises about nothing. When you create a football team, it’s your job to bring together the best team year after year.”
But Shanahan’s support for Garoppolo is more directly tied to the idea that if the 49ers replace him, they’d better be sure they’ll get an upgrade. It’s not an easy task, as the 49ers are 22-8 in the regular season games Garoppolo has started and 7-26 in every game other quarterbacks have started since Shanahan took over in 2017.
“Look at all the avenues and see if there’s anything that can make you much better,” Shanahan said. “That’s the same answer for all positions, but look at Jimmy, look what he’s done, look where he’s financially. It’s better to have a really good answer if you find something better than that because Jimmy has shown in a year that he’s the guy who can take us to the Super Bowl, and I also think Jimmy will improve a lot more as he plays. “
Garoppolo is projected to count $ 26.9 million against the salary cap next season and $ 27 million in 2022.
The 49ers could theoretically move past Garoppolo and save $ 24.1 million in cap with just $ 2.8 million dead in a low season in which the salary cap is expected to drop and about 40 players are expected come to some form of free agency.
But Shanahan doesn’t see Garoppolo’s salary as particularly heavy, noting that since he signed his five-year, $ 137.5 million deal in 2018, many other quarterbacks have surpassed him. Garoppolo’s $ 26.9 million salary cap for next season would be the eleventh highest in the NFL.
“That’s what they cost,” Shanahan said. “So it’s not like it’s ridiculous or anything like that. We can fix everything. And, not to mention, look at Jimmy’s record when he’s been here. Jimmy, you can win. He’s proved it. He has. proved to be a starting quarterback in this league “.
Many of the questions surrounding Garoppolo are not so much about his contract as the combination of his contract and his injury history. With the odds that Garoppolo will not play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, he will have lost 23 regular-season games in the last three seasons.
In addition to the torn ACL that cost him 13 games in 2018 and the pair of high ankle sprains that kept him out of ten games this year, Garoppolo also had a shoulder injury that prevented him from doing so. a couple of outings when he was with the New England Patriots in 2016.
This, along with the pending free backup agency of Nick Mullens (restricted) and CJ Beathard (unrestricted), means the Niners will have to take a long look at their quarterback quarters no matter what they do in 2021 .
“Yes, we need to be able to improve our team and other things if it hurts, but also what will help you that if you ever have a backup to play a whole year you will try to keep the rest of your roster healthy,” Shanahan said. “It would be a tough year for Jimmy too, if he stayed there. Yes, we would have had more chances for how good Jimmy is, but it was tough for anyone to put in that position so don’t sit back and overreact just because our side quarterbacks had to play all year in some tough situations, but you’ll see who we can get next year. ”
As for Shanahan over the rest of the roster, the 49ers came out of Saturday’s win against the Arizona Cardinals with an even greater wear and tear of injuries in a full season.
Left-back Trent Williams (elbow sprain) and rookie Brandon Aiyuk (high ankle sprain) will not play Sunday against the Seahawks after suffering injuries to the Cardinals. Shanahan also ruled out cornerback Richard Sherman for this week as he continues to suffer a calf injury. Williams and Sherman are unrestricted free agents.
The 49ers also put Taybor Pepper and center Hroniss Grasu on the COVID-19 roster on Monday.