Jimmy Garoppolo will remain the starting quarterback for the 49ers, probably, and Kyle Shanahan is fine with that, he supposes.
“I would guess so,” Shanahan told reporters when asked if Garoppolo would start next week after the 49ers lost to the Colts 30-18 on Sunday night. “I’ll watch this tape and see if guys are healthy, first of all.”
It’s not exactly the strongest endorsement you’ve ever heard.
Garoppolo, who has struggled with injuries this year, returned from a strained and bruised right calf on Sunday to throw for 181 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions with a fumble in the loss.
“Definitely felt it at times,” Garoppolo said. “But it sort of is what it is. All the guys out there, we’re all playing with something right now. It’s that point of the season.”
The preferred next option under center is rookie Trey Lance, who San Francisco traded three first-round picks to move up in the draft and select. Lance is dealing with his own injury issues – he was inactive on Sunday after spraining his left knee in an Oct. 10 loss to the Cardinals.
Third-string QB Nate Sudfeld backed up Garoppolo vs. Indy, but has yet to see game action this season.
“I have got a whole team to worry about,” Shanahan said. “I’m not just thinking about the quarterback situation right now. I’ll evaluate everything, see where our team’s at, see who gives us the best chance to beat Chicago and see what our options are. … But we’ve got a lot of things to figure out.”
First and foremost, Lance needs to be healthy if the Niners are going to play him. But at 2-4, with the Cardinals and Rams both looking like surefire playoff teams in their division, San Francisco needs to find an answer – fast.
Maybe that answer isn’t Lance. But Shanahan doesn’t sound convinced that it’s Garoppolo.
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