What’s at stake for Jimmy Garoppolo as 49ers visit Chiefs

Posted By on August 23, 2019

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) and Richard Sherman (25) talk on the sidelines during an NFL preseason football game between the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers have reached a crisis moment before their season has even begun.

Jimmy Garoppolo does not seem ready to start the regular season opener Sept. 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s recovering from a torn ACL and, while the team says he has recovered physically, he doesn’t seem mentally recuperated yet.

Garoppolo looked timid last Monday night against the Denver Broncos. Didn’t step into his throws, and dove away from pressure. Threw six passes and the Broncos tipped two of them, intercepted one and almost picked off another.

Garoppolo finished the game with zero passing yards and a quarterback rating of 0.0. When he walked off the field, he looked stunned, a look he had in training camp when he threw 10 interceptions in 15 practices, including five consecutive picks in just one day.

Garoppolo is expected to play the entire first half of the 49ers’ preseason “dress rehearsal” game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. This will be the 49ers’ best chance to seriously evaluate Garoppolo and determine if he’s ready to start the season opener in Tampa, or if he needs more time.

Here’s what to watch for Saturday night when the 49ers play the Chiefs.

This article has 104 Comments

  1. What’s at stake for J. Gar? His career is on the line. He better put up a strong performance or he may get benched for the season opener.

    2. Grant is right: Jimmy G is not ready for the season. I have many doubts about him as a franchise QB and think the Niners way overpaid him for a thin resume. Clearly, Mullins is our best chance right now. He is smarter than Jimmy G. in any case and is the better player and leader.

    3. They aren’t going to bench a 130 mil dollar quarterback no matter how he performs in practice

    4. His job will only be on the line if they don’t see a progress in their win loss record. He isn’t going to lose it over a preseason game. Just because grant thinks something doesn’t mean it’s true. He’s a half good writer who just blurts out big bold predictions and gets recognized for it. Good for him. Practices and preseason games aren’t for losing jobs for started unless an injury occurs. If they start off 0-4 or 0-5 then there might be a change.

  2. There is no doubt the Niners season depends on Garopollo. If he just plays average for a guy of his talent the Niners will be 8-8. If they are 6-10, I would hope they would draft a QB in the first round next year.

    2. I would hope they would draft a QB in the first round next year.

      They need another 2 or 3 starting-quality OL unless they prefer to draft a sacrificial QB…

  3. It’s 10 snaps. What are the chances of 2 of those balls being batted down. Look at how Mayfield and Winston played today. This is THE DUMBEST article Grant could have written. Him of all people should realize you don’t panic over an even smaller sample size than the amount of games he’s played in.

    1. Grant is just a hater, he always will find something to complain about. Dude is another Antonio Brown lol. Jimmy hasn’t played football in almost a year and he’s coming off a major injury. Jerick can’t even get on the field, Jimmy’s protection was trash and Kyle didn’t help with the empty backfield on all his throws. At least a RB could’ve helped with protection. Baker Mayfield was 10-26(38%) for 72 yards 0 tds and 1 int. Let’s see if the media says anything about the golden child. He played all last season and is healthy.

      1. After Grant manufactures a crisis, you don’t expect him to let it go to waste do ya? No, he will exploit it until Jimmy makes him eat crow!

      2. Pretty sure baker mayfield’s career is over after his preseason performance. Pre season and training camp is everything for talent evaluation. Jimmy G is garbage ? . Grant is the messiah and is better at evaluating talent than anybody else on the 49ers staff. 49ers run nothing but vanilla offense and they can never be good. ? nick mullens was amazing last year and should be enshrined as the starter because jG will never be ready and Mullen’s is the best qb and his impressive 2-6 record is in games that matter should put him over jimmy g’s 6-2 record

  4. One play I would like to see is the fly sweep with Deebo. Let JG toss the ball to Deebo, and it will count as a pass.
    .
    A swing pass to a RB in space will be another easily completed pass.
    .
    Hopefully, the Niners can come out, and establish a running game. JG has less chance of injury if he hands off the ball.
    .
    Once they establish a running game, the PA pass for a long strike down field, will help silence his critics.
    .
    I agree, the coaching will be under scrutiny, too.
    .
    I think the Niners have a good chance to win this game because Dee Ford will spill his guts, and give the Niners his Chiefs player assessments, and detail the KC tendencies.

  5. Can we just calm down.
    Jimmy G hasn’t even played a full season yet. And he’s coming off the ACL injury.
    Let’s give the guy a chance this year. I believe, and the organization believes Jimmy G is going to lead this team to great things.
    He just has to keep working and keep getting better and we should have a good year. Defense and running game should help him out too.

  6. Sure, there’s some overreaction about JG’ 5 straight INTs and his tentative play on Monday.
    But at the same time, it’s abundantly clear that the mental aspect of his game has taken a hit.

    That said, Shanahan would not be doing his due diligence if he does not give serious attention to JG’ play on Saturday.

    I said after Jimmy’ 5 INTs performance that his biggest hurdle would be regaining his confidence. But after his Monday night game he also seemed to be concerned about his knee.

    The next two preseason games are of dire importance for JG, Shanahan, FO and the fanbase. If Jimmy mimics what he’s done over the past two weeks, Shanahan and Lynch will need to sit down and have a lively pow- wow.

  7. How is this a crisis moment for a qb who is 6-2 as a starter for us? This makes absolutely no sense. But Mullens is our savior at 3-5? You people are backwards. Why don’t you try giving this guy an O line that’s been neglected for two seasons. Or even a number 1 receiver.

    1. Yes, O line needs to be seriously addressed at the draft in the first few rounds and a very good FA from now on, not 1 mid-late pick and a nobody FA. They got McG, need 2 very good OL every year. Also the way JG is going, he was 6-2, now probably 2-6 and Mullens now 5-3.

  8. Forget Jimmy Garoppolo. I’m more concerned for Tom House’s reputation as a QB guru if his star pupil plays poorly in a preseason game. I mean this preseason game is like Tom House’s Super Bowl.

    The other guy that needs to fear for his job is Ben Peterson. Isn’t his job title Head of Player Health & Performance? Isn’t mentally preparing for game action post surgery part of “Performance?” Pretty clear that if Jimmy Garoppolo is tentative and makes poor decisions in this preseason game then Ben Peterson needs to be fired.

    2. It may take time for JG to get in playing form. Time will tell whether House/Peterson/Shanahan/JG are to blame. My guess is that he will improve (can’t get much worse). It won’t be dramatic but it will help.

      What is it with our QBs that they take a step back once a large contract is signed?

      1. JG seems to get worse, lucky in ’17, winging it. NFL figured him out in ’18, he played poorly and sacked a ton, blows out his knee. In ’19, rusty as hell going south, 5 int’s in a row in practice, takes a dump vs Denver, almost 2 more picks, 0 yards….He’s playing his way to be the most paid 3rd stringer ever!!!!!!!!

  9. Miami vs Florida and Arizona vs Hawaii tonight. The college season begins.

    1. Yes! I love the pageantry and passion of college football.
      There are some great rivalrys in college football.

      I’ve been waiting (a long time) for my Cal Bears to make some noise, but I’ll have to keep waiting – and waiting – and…..

  12. Great points Grant= I have to agree with this…….but the team needs to help him out…Oline and Wr play has to improve dramatically….or it will be more of the same =and it just may be more of the same we will find out tonight….

    1. Yes and the Oline and WR core needs to step up….play like pros….how many penalties tonight? went from 18 to 13 YIKES

  14. Will be interesting to see if Mitch Hitnowsy is instructed to ease up a bit on punishing returners…

  15. “The 49ers have reached a crisis moment before their season has even begun ”

    I rarely LOL, but when I read this I COL (Chuckle) .

  16. Shanahan shares blame for Garoppolo’s awful preseason debut, because Shanahan’s play-calling was strange and out of character.

    The only question is, who is Garoppolo’s bigger enemy – Kyle Shanahan or the Kansas City Chiefs?

    1. or the Oline or the WR core…??? We know Kyle wants KCousins…..is he setting up JimmyG to take the fall? Conspiracy>…what say Grant?

      1. The Danes should offer to buy Long Island for 24 dollars worth of beads and trinkets. ;p

        1. That would be overpaying for Long Island.

          Now, Manhattan on the other hand… I like Franklin’s idea of pastries. If they can do cronuts, sold! I wouldn’t mind living in a Danish protectorate, Denmark scores #1 in quality of life rankings.

            1. Greenland= Maine/northern Minnesota/Montana/Alaska; but with fewer guns.
              I spent a winter (just 1!) in Maine. The breaking waves freeze to the shore before the water can run back off.

    3. Yeah, seems like Shanahan is doing everything to destroy the team.
      First Poindexter, and now Jimmy. Oh my, is anyone safe! ?

  17. As much as I understand the teams commitment to Jimmy G, there are 52 other roster spots that need attention. He will be fine, or if he is not, he will be replaced sometime down the road like any other player. So…..how about this team and its immediate future. I think there are a few roster spots that are not as “locked” as people think.
    Marquise Goodwin. First, It’s already been stated that his snaps will be limited. 2nd, Samuels and Taylor have passed him on the depth chart, and maybe so has Mathews. The team will keep pushing for Petis. And Hurd as earned more then a few snaps. James had shown speed as a receiver and value in the return game, but consistency is an issue. So were is Goodwin on the depth chart? If all wr’s start the season healthy, where is he with the playing time?
    How about Arik Armstead? Here is a $9 million defensive lineman that has no track record for rushing the QB. He is a good run stopper and he can play inside and out, but so can Street and Taylor and so can Thomas and Blair in a pinch. Think Buckner along with Jones, Day and Thomas on the inside with Ford, Bosa and Blair on the outside and Street and Taylor doing both. That is a nine man rotation right there.
    Where does that leave a player that probably won’t b on the team next year? I know his $9 million cap hit could b an issue, but that can be worked around.
    What about Colbert? Moore and Ward at FS and Tartt and Harris at SS. That basically makes Colbert your #5. Is there any trade value there for a former starter? Maybe, maybe not.
    How about Malcom Smith. He is not considered a lock, but Greenlaw and Al-Shaair have zoomed by him on the depth chart. Is there any kind of trade value or is he an outright release?
    What I have listed here are a few veterans that I feel the team needs to move on from. The hope is they can use these players to trade for players in position of need, offensive line depth, or draft picks. There has to b a few teams that have starter needs at these positions because of multiple injuries and are willing to pay if the price is right. It is Lynch’s job to find those teams.

  18. OT, but the NFL is losing money with all of these empty stadiums. They may gouge the season ticket holders by making them pay for the preseason, but they lose tons of potential revenue from the concessions, and it shows a distinct lack of interest in the game. Their goal should be to hype the game, and filled stadiums look good. Empty seats look bad.
    .
    They should start incrementally. Eliminate one preseason game, and use that time slot to schedule a second bye during the regular season. They should then offer to pay the players one sixteenth more, for an expansion of the season to 17 games. This proposal should be voted on by the players before adopting. The league can point out that the second bye will help the players rest and heal during the season.
    .
    Here is a major proposal. The league should offer to let the Player’s Association to benefit from the revenues from the preseason games. By giving up the revenues, it might help fill the stadiums. The Player’s Association would split the revenues between several entities. Some would go to the Player’s Association. Some would go into a medical fund for the players. Some would go to the retired players. Some would go to help study how to make the game safer. Some could go to help fund local charities and causes. The Player’s Association could dole out tickets to the 54 to 90 players who do not make the team. Give those players 200 seats per game, so they could benefit from revenues of the 400 to 600 tickets for the preseason. Their friends and relatives would buy those tickets to support those cut players. The retired players could draw crowds by attending games, since they would benefit, thus helping fill up the stadiums.
    .
    The league should eliminate the specter of seeing a starter being injured during a meaningless game, by having the teams designate 22 starters, and making them ineligible to play. This would allow the backups and bubble players more time to compete. Pay the starters their full salary for the games in which they sit.
    .
    I do see the benefit of having preseason games to help determine who makes the team, but 4 is too many, and empty stadiums do not promote the game. Fans will gnash their teeth if their season becomes doomed because a major starter becomes injured playing a meaningless game. The NFL will look magnanimous if they give up the revenues, and by giving up those revenues, they will cut their losses and help fill the stadiums. It would be a good bargaining chip for the upcoming CBA.

    1. What the flock does this have to do with the article at hand?….please stay OT…thanks in advance

      1. It is about football, and it pertains to the preseason games. It would be one way to help the players who will be cut, and also the retired players. It would prevent starters from being injured in meaningless games.
        .
        Of course, the NFL owners are greedy and short sighted, so they will dismiss this proposal out of hand, but I like to think outside the box.

            1. Here ya go….mr know it all narcissist…..
              1. They make it clear they know everything.
              Grandiose sense of self-importance. …
              Lives in a fantasy world that supports their delusions of grandeur. …
              Needs constant praise and admiration. …
              Sense of entitlement. …
              Exploits others without guilt or shame. …
              Frequently demeans, intimidates, bullies, or belittles others.
              They love to delegate work or projects and then interfere by micro-managing things.
              If things go well, they take the credit; if the work turns out badly, they blame the person they delegated it to.
              Seb we know who you are….you have a sickness and are quite rude….you and your attitude are one of the reasons why people in Cali are hated so much…you my friend are a prime example
              Via “The 7 Things Only Narcissists Will Do and “100 signs and Traits of Narcissism”

    2. Sebbie, Sebbie, Sebbie….

      Love you’re take: …the NFL is losing money with all of these empty stadiums. They may gouge the season ticket holders by making them pay for the preseason, but they lose tons of potential revenue from the concessions, and it shows a distinct lack of interest in the game. Their goal should be to hype the game, and filled stadiums look good. Empty seats look bad.

      The NFL isn’t your daddy’s NFL. Not anymore. Have you paused just a moment to consider how NFL content is served these days, and will be in the future? The benchmark isn’t just putting butts in seats, not just selling beer. It’s about serving content digitally–streaming, etc. Subscriptions. And all that licensing. And all that merchandise.

      https://fortune.com/2019/02/02/nfl-super-bowl-ad-revenue/

      https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/packers-financials-show-that-nfl-made-billions-despite-national-anthem-controversy/

      And lots, lots, lots more. Do your research.

      1. Thanks for proving my point. The NFL is a huge cash cow, so I am merely proposing they eliminate a loss leader.
        .
        Empty stadiums are hurting the brand. Full stadiums will enhance revenues. Like you said, the NFL is making gobs of money. They can afford to throw crumbs to the players.

      1. Sebbie:

        NFL Scout/Front Office Guru/Coaching Mentor/NFL Brand Enhancement Officer/Groundskeeper

        Is there no end to his expertise?

        1. Coaching analyst- Bringing back Foerster? Niners need a coke head like they need a hole in the head.
          .
          What next? Foerster brings back Devey?

          1. Oh Sebbie…..

            Did you, or did you not call for the return of Scot McCloughan? Thinking he had substance abuse issues too.

              1. Oh, so the individual’s behavior comes in second to ‘value to the franchise’. Two-faced Sebbie remains in play.

              4. Cassie, Sebbie…a hypocrite?! Why, he’s just a humble fan who wants the Niners to win…

  19. Apologize if shared earlier…

    Eric Branch
    @Eric_Branch

    Azeez Al-Shaair has dealt with extreme poverty, a devastating fire, a crushing knee injury, and the day in May when he realized he’d have to barge through the NFL’s back door to realize his dream of supporting his mom and seven siblings.

    https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-undrafted-rookie-Azeez-Al-Shaair-has-14375066.php#?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Premium)&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

    1. FRM,
      Hope the kid makes the team. But aside from his meager beginnings, the kid looks like a good football player.
      He’s been on my “watch list” this preseason.

  20. There’s a crisis brewing in the Mood household. While there is considerable depth on lager and sufficient versatility with IPAs, pilsners are in a shockingly inadequate state to start the season that even an excoriating article from Grant cannot do justice. I must spend most of the morning scouring the Bev Mo and Trader Joe waiver wires for pilsners :(

    2. Mood, this is what preseason is for! Imagine if preseason were scrapped and you had to head into the regular season with unknowns in the ice chest?

      2. That would be a catastrophe! Being the GM of Mood’s Beerworld, I have to plan well into next February. Encouraged by Lynch’s drafting of a Aussie punter in the fourth round, I think I should expand my global reach to hitherto untested (untasted?) Czech pilsners, Bavarian hefeweizens, and a Belgian abbey ales ;-|

  21. Careful 49ers—DL Kevin Givens

    “John Lynch said he has received calls about defensive linemen.”

    ” I don’t know how you can convince yourself that Kevin Givens isn’t going to bring more to the table than one of the 1-techs on the roster. It’s not even upside. Givens has proven that he can win and win often inside. That is a player that you want to develop on your roster, not watch him turn into a promising player somewhere else.

    Here’s Lynch on the defensive line:

    https://www.ninersnation.com/2019/8/23/20830012/john-lynch-bosa-and-verrett-have-a-50-50-chance-of-playing-in-week-1

  25. Freakin’ Robot Moron says:
    August 24, 2019 at 9:14 am
    Sebbie, Sebbie, Sebbie….

    Love you’re take: …”the NFL is losing money with all of these empty stadiums.”
    The NFL isn’t your daddy’s NFL. Not anymore…The benchmark isn’t just putting butts in seats, not just selling beer. It’s about serving content digitally–streaming, etc. Subscriptions. And all that licensing. And all that merchandise.

    Sour Yeast says:
    August 24, 2019 at 10:02 am
    Sebbie:

    NFL Scout/Front Office Guru/Coaching Mentor/NFL Brand Enhancement Officer/Groundskeeper

    Is there no end to his expertise?

    REPLY:

    Seb’s Signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder

    1. They make it clear they know everything.
    *Grandiose sense of self-importance. …
    *Lives in a fantasy world that supports their delusions of grandeur. …
    *Needs constant praise and admiration. …
    *Sense of entitlement. …
    *Exploits others without guilt or shame. …
    *Frequently demeans, intimidates, bullies, or belittles others.
    *They love to delegate work or projects and then interfere by micro-managing things.
    If things go well, they take the credit; if the work turns out badly, they blame the person they delegated it to.

    Via “The 7 Things Only Narcissists Will Do and “100 signs and Traits of Narcissism”

  26. When the 49ers take the field in Tampa Bay it will be Garoppolo under center.

    The money and the owner dictate that.

    1. So what you are saying if Shanny wanted Mullins to start, York would overrule that and force JG to start? I would also include that Shanny, Lynch along with York think JG is their man so yea its not just the money, they really think he is the man.

      1. What I’m saying is that the guy you are paying the big $$ will get every chance to fail before he’s benched. No owner wants to just throw $$ away.

    3. I think so too, Jack.
      But he will have an invisible ‘caution sign’ on his back placed there by Shanahan.
      If he falters in the first two games things will get spicy.

    4. Yes Jack….Jed runs the show….even though he knows squat about football……the Bosa pick has Jed written all over it

    5. When the 49ers take the field in Tampa Bay it will be Garoppolo under center

      Your 11-5 prediction is riding on it, Jack.

  27. How Bridgewater Overcame His Knee Recovery
    By Megan Melchiorre

    Did you think you’d never be able to play at the level you were before your injury?
    Have you expected your rehab to go a certain way, and then it didn’t?

    Teddy Bridgewater, a current quarterback for the New York Jets suffered a gruesome knee injury on August 30th, 2016. A torn ACL and a dislocation.
    Many thought his career was over.

    “It was scary,” Bridgewater said. He said: “It brought tears to my eyes because it showed me you’re never out of it, you’re never out of the fight.”

    https://www.peaksports.com/sports-psychology-blog/how-bridgewater-overcame-his-knee-recovery/

  28. So what is at stake today for JimmyG? did anybody answer this?…I say his football career and not a porn career…

  29. Nothing. That’s what’s at stake for Jimmy G. If he has a bad game, he has bad game and has a lot more that he has to work through. Nick Mullins isn’t going to start the regular season. That would just delay the live-fire play that JG badly needs to help him get back to where we all want him to be. Quit reading the guys wearing sandwich boards** and start paying attention to what longtime NFL analysts, such as Greg Cosell, have to say. Can’t call him a “homer” (like constant optimism for the team you follow is a bad thing?) or accuse him of not wanting to hear “The Truth™”.

    **Repent, repent, the world is coming to an end.

      1. Hi Grant =yes I think its very important….I think JimmyG has a lot on the line TODAY..

    2. Perhaps but if he does “stink it up” there is trouble on the horizon I think…..he does throw picks and that’s never a good thing…..I think he will do ok…me I am a Mullens fan, bring on the youth Hurd Samuel Mullens Givens Greenlaw etc…

  30. I think it will take at least a couple of regular season games before Jimmy G to finds a surer footing, giving Grant another month to express his dark misgivings and wax eloquently on his Garopolyptic vision….

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