Jimmy Garoppolo is fighting again as a 49ers starter, becoming the first quarterback to accidentally run out of the end zone since Dan Orlovsky did it for the 0-16 Lions 14 years ago
Jimmy Garoppolo was reinstated into the starting lineup for the San Francisco 49ers following last week’s injury to Trey Lance, and his performance will likely be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
During the third quarter of the 11-10 loss to the Denver Broncos, Garoppolo fell back too far and stepped out of the end zone, creating a safety as he attempted to get a pass.
It was the first time since ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky that a quarterback ran from the back endzone during the Detroit Lions’ 0-16 season in 2008.
What made the moment even better was the fact that Orlovsky quickly took to Twitter to express his delight that he was no longer the only quarterback to have committed such stupidity after joking for 14 years.
Jimmy Garoppolo falls back from the end zone trying to throw a pass under pressure
ESPN analyst and former Detroit Lions QB Dan Orlovsky happily tweeted that he was no longer the only QB to accidentally exit the back endzone
ESPN colleague Marcus Spears congratulated Orlovsky on his performance
“I’VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER FFFFREEEEEDDDDOOOMMMM,” Orlovsky tweeted after security.
ESPN analyst Marcus Spears also echoed the hilarious quip: “My brother you are not alone anymore @danorlovsky7. Take a bow of brotha! Alone no more.’
Despite his mistake, which will likely live on in infamy alongside Orlovsky’s, Garoppolo was the better of the two quarterbacks, outplaying Russell Wilson.
Longtime rivals Garoppolo and Russel Wilson shake hands after the Sunday Night Football game
Garoppolo completed 18-29 passes for 211 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Wilson, on the other hand, was 20-33 with 184 yards.
Despite outperforming his opponent in the loss, the 49ers QB noted he and the team still had work to do to readjust to being the under-middle guy again.
“I don’t think so… we weren’t in a rhythm at all in the second half. You could feel it, you could see it, Garoppolo said.
“We talked about it in passing. But I was just thinking about it, it was sort of my first week with these guys and I just need to get into the rhythm with them.
Garoppolo missed all of the team’s offseason workouts while recovering from throwing arm surgery. Upon his return, he was given limited reps with the starters in practice due to Lance being named the starter.
“Oh yeah, my arm is feeling it right now,” Garoppolo said. “You know I haven’t gone through OTAs and training camp. I’m not trying to apologize or anything, but you know I just need to get in game shape and get rolling.
Broncos linebacker Randy Gregory celebrates safety pulling Garoppolo back from the end zone