Analysis
12/4/22
3 min read
49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo Suffers Broken Foot, Out for Season
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a broken foot in his team's 33-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins and will miss the remainder of the season, coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game on Sunday.
"He'll be out, he'll need surgery," said Shanahan. "He broke a few things in there."
Garoppolo was injured nine plays into San Francisco's opening drive. With more than 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter, he was sacked by Dolphins pass rushers Jerome Baker and Jaelan Phillips. His left foot got caught under Phillips as he was taken down. After being examined in the blue medical tent on the sideline, the quarterback was taken to the locker room, where x-rays revealed the season-ending damage.
"This is a huge loss for the San Francisco 49ers," said analyst Rick Spielman of The 33rd Team. "This makes it very difficult to replace, especially the quarterback position."
The loss of Garoppolo left the 49ers with just one quarterback option on the active roster. That's Brock Purdy, the final pick in the 2022 draft who replaced Garoppolo on Sunday. Purdy finished 25-of-37 for 210 yards, with a touchdown and interception.
Spielman says it won't be smooth sailing the rest of the way for the rookie, especially as teams are better prepared to face him.
"Kyle Shanahan is a brilliant offensive mind. He'll figure out ways to help him manage the games," Spielman said. "(Purdy's) not as experienced as Garoppolo, but maybe similar in some of the things they do offensively.
"I think they will still be OK, but teams are going to have a game now [of tape] and be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of what Purdy did (on Sunday), and [know] how to attack him going forward."
Purdy's first start will come next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Tom Brady.
"It's gonna be pretty cool ... he's been playing football longer than I've been alive," said the 22-year-old quarterback.
Garoppolo entered the season as the team's backup to Trey Lance, whose season came to an end after suffering an ankle injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. Garoppolo stepped up in Lance's absence, leading the 49ers to a 6-3 record in nine starts. NFL Media reported on Sunday that the 49ers were considering a short-term deal that would keep Garoppolo around for at least one more season.
As a potential backup for Purdy, the 49ers signed QB Josh Johnson on Sunday, according to ESPN. Johnson is a 13-year NFL veteran who's spent time with a record 14 NFL clubs. This will be the third time in his career Johnson has been with the 49ers. Johnson had been on the Denver Broncos practice squad prior to the signing.
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