The San Francisco quarterback room just got smaller as 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan signaled Wednesday that Jimmy Garoppolo will not return to the team next season.
Garoppolo is a free agent this offseason.
“No, I don’t see any scenario of that,” Shanahan said Wednesday when asked if Garoppolo would return in 2023.
The Niners are rolling with two injured QBs — Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, though the latter could be out for a year if he chooses to have Tommy John surgery on his torn UCL. Purdy could be ready by training camp if he opts to repair the ligament.
Lance is expected to be recovered in time to participate in offseason activities.
“It sounds like we’ll at least have one guy for it,” Shanahan said.
“I know we have two starters on our team right now that I believe we can win with,” Shanahan added. “When you have that situation, you’re not that eager to go looking around.”
Garoppolo, 31, went 7-3 as the starter after Lance went down in Week 2 with a season-ending ankle injury. Garoppolo threw for 2,437 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions before he suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 13.
His exit paved the way for the rookie heroics of Purdy, who took the baton and led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game, where his injury figured into a 31-7 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. Purdy’s right elbow was injured on the 49ers’ sixth play from scrimmage on a blow from Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick. He later had to re-enter the game after backup Josh Johnson sustained a concussion.
“The good thing about Brock is (gradual wear-and-tear) wasn’t an issue,” Shanahan said. “It was a freak accident that I think everyone saw what happened. When you talk to the doctors, it takes three months to really get back to repairing it and building it up the right way, and in six months, he’ll be the same guy.”
Purdy threw for 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions in the regular season and went for 332 yards and three TDs in a wild-card win over the Seattle Seahawks. He added 214 yards passing when the Niners edged the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round.
–Field Level Media