Jimmy Garoppolo's era with the Raiders ended unofficially on Friday, albeit in an unexpected way, as the quarterback was suspended two games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, league sources confirmed. The Raiders plan to cut Garoppolo in a month, a team and league source confirmed, after the NFL year begins to avoid paying him an $11.25 million roster bonus.
Garoppolo will not appeal the suspension and will miss the first two games of the 2024 season.
Garoppolo entered 2024 with a fully guaranteed salary of $11.25 million and a roster bonus of $11.25 million due March 17. His suspension voids those guarantees.
Garoppolo had a very difficult year with the Raiders, starting with delaying his contract press conference after he failed a physical exam and required further foot surgery. The Raiders reworked his three-year, $73 million contract due to the surgery, but then reworked it again after he returned to restore the $33.75 million guaranteed.
Garoppolo, 32, was not playing well and was leading the league with nine interceptions when he was benched in Week 9. He had completed 110 of 168 passes for 1,205 passing yards with just seven touchdowns. General manager Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels, who brought in Garoppolo because of his ties to the New England Patriots, were also fired this week.
With the release of Garoppolo, new Raiders general manager Tom Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce have two quarterbacks available on the roster: Aidan O'Connell and Brian Hoyer. But Hoyer won't be back either and the Raiders are expected to aggressively try to move up from No. 13 and sign a quarterback or sign a veteran free agent.
Garoppolo led the 49ers to the Super Bowl following the 2019 season after being acquired from the Patriots.
Required reading
(Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today)