Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Switching from Trey Lance back to Jimmy Garoppolo wasn’t difficult for the San Francisco 49ers. Teammates know Garoppolo, who has been the Niners’ starting quarterback since the final games of the 2017 season.
Garoppolo returned in a backup role this season. However, Lance’s injury at the end of the season (head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed today that it was indeed a season-ending event) catapulted the veteran quarterback back into the starting XI.
A reporter asked a 49ers player about Lance’s move to Garoppolo.
“I’d just like to start by not wanting to downplay our feelings for Trey,” full-back Kyle Juszczyk said in the dressing room ahead of Wednesday’s training session. “That was our type. We wish he was still out here doing his thing, but it’s been a good transition. And admittedly it’s been two days so from what we’ve experienced so far it’s been fine and seamless. I mean, Jimmy was our quarterback here. This is like his sixth year so you would expect him to be familiar and know what we’re doing.
When players learned that Garoppolo would return for another season, some were shocked. After all, everyone assumed the quarterback would play somewhere else in 2022. Garoppolo didn’t practice with the team, didn’t attend meetings, and didn’t even have a playbook in hand until after the 49ers’ final preseason game.
The players didn’t understand how Garoppolo’s return was possible. But when Shanahan came up with the plan, everyone was on board. The quarterback is a favorite in the locker room, after all.
Garoppolo joined his teammates on the practice field for the first time on September 1 – as QB2. That was strange for some.
“In the beginning it was definitely different to see him in this backup role,” said Juszczyk. “But even then I still remember the first practice he was here; You noticed Jimmy right away, just his presence and his command. “
On Sunday night, Garoppolo will lead the 49ers into Empower Field at Mile High for a Week 3 matchup against Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos.
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