49ers beat Jets but lose Bosa, Garoppolo
The 49ers won the game, and lost so much in the process.
Beating the New York Jets 3113 was a mere formality amid a frightening battle of attrition, which many San Francisco 49ers traced to MetLife Stadium’s new synthetic, “sticky” turf. An already injury-stricken 49ers team saw headliners and starters exit early, including:
• Jimmy Garoppolo. After taking heat for the 49ers’ opening loss, the quarterback played through a high-ankle sprain in the first half, and did so in near-perfect fashion to stake the 49ers to a 21-3 halftime lead. He is likely out for next Sunday’s return to MetLife.
• Solomon Thomas. Two snaps after Bosa’s exit, Thomas also was carted off with a left knee injury that Shanahan described as “in the same boat as Bosa” but with a better chance of not being an ACL tear. Right tackle George Fant backed into Thomas, the 2017 draft’s No. 3 overall pick who was making his 30th career start.
• Raheem Mostert. The 49ers’ leading rusher was kept out after halftime because of a mild sprain to his medial collateral ligament, ESPN reported. He sparked the rout with an 80yard touchdown run on the first snap, and he exited with 92 rushing yards (eight carries) and 15 receiving yards (two catches).
More 49ers went down before the rout was done, and keep in mind they played without four mainstays: tight end George Kittle
(knee), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (foot; injured reserve), cornerback Richard Sherman (calf; injured reserve) and pass rusher Dee Ford (neck).
This Sunday, the depth-tested 49ers (1-1) will return to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants, after spending the coming week at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. Giants star Saquon Barkley sustained a knee injury himself on Sunday.
Here are the highs, lows and all else you need to know as the 49ers rebounded from last Sunday’s opening loss to Arizona: GAROPPOLO’S GRIT » Pain immediately struckGaroppolo’s right ankle on a second-series sack by Quinnen Williams. Garoppolo gutted through it remarkably well, up until his halftime exit. He was 14 of 16 for 131 yards,
with two touchdown passes to Jordan Reed and no further sacks.
“He just came to the huddle and called plays like nothing was going on,” wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk said. “I didn’t know anything was wrong with him. He was just a warrior.”
Reed agreed, adding: “Honestly I didn’t even know he was injured at all. He didn’t make it known to me or anyone else in the huddle. He never winced. He always kept his composure. When I heard he was going out, I was confused. I’m glad it’s a small thing and he’ll bounce right back.”
Garoppolo stayed on target. Even his first incomplete pass was a perfectly placed 40-yard throw that Kendrick Bourne dropped just beyond midfield. Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams kept sending defenders at Garoppolo, who withstood several hits and ultimately drew a roughing-the-passer penalty to keep alive his final touchdown drive. ‘GEORDAN’ REED »
After just a 10-snap cameo last Sunday in his 49ers debut, Reed excelled while Kittle (knee sprain) missed only his fourth career game. By halftime, Reed had two touchdowns on six catches and seven targets for 49 yards, in only his second game since 2018.
“I just trying to give Jimmy confidence he can throw me the pill and I can come down with it every time,” said Reed, who added a 1-yard catch from Nick Mullens after halftime. “It’s great playing with Jimmy. He’s got a quick release and is accurate with the ball.” MOSTERT’S SPRINT » Mostert (eight carries, 92 yards) got ruled out at halftime, but not before his speed keyed the 49ers’ start. He took the opening snap 80 yards for a touchdown. His sprint to the goal line was clocked at 23.1 mph, faster than any ballcarrier over the past two seasons.
That touchdown put Mostert in an elite 49ers fraternity. Only four other players have scored touchdowns in eight straight games: Jerry Rice (1986-87; 1989), Terrell Owens (1989), Freddie Solomon (1984) and Dave Parks (1965-66). Rice owns the team record with 13 consecutive games in the 1986-87 seasons.
Mike McGlinchey’s holding penalty nullified a 67yard TD run by Mostert. NEXT RUSHERS UP » With Mostert ruled out, Jerick McKinnon took a seemingly innocent handoff on third-and-31 and burst up the middle for a 55yard run to the Jets’ 34yard line. That provided a boost amid all the injuries. Shortly after, Mullens fumbled when sacked on his second snap. When McKinnon scored on a fourthquarter run of 16 yards, the 49ers’ lead grew to 31-6.
Tevin Coleman (14 carries, 12 yards) also left with an unspecified knee injury. He lost yards or was held to no gain on 6 of 8 carries before he found more room. AIYUK’S DEBUT » Aiyuk’s first-career catch resulted in a third-down conversion. Garoppolo rolled right for an 8-yard pass to Aiyuk at the Jets’ 43. He showed his yards-after-catch proficiency on his next catch, for 13 yards.
BOURNE RALLIES » Kendrick Bourne overcame dropping that deep ball on
Garoppolo’s first incomplete pass, and the fourthyear receiver picked up a third-down conversion on a catch for 18 yards just before the two-minute warning. His next receptions went for 10, 15 and 24 yards.
MULLENS’ RUST » Garoppolo’s halftime exit lent Mullens his first meaningful snaps since 2018, when he went 3-5 in his first-career starts. The offense struggled to regain a consistent rhythm. He fumbled on the first of two sacks, and he completed 8 of 11 for 71 yards with one interception, off a pass tipped by McKinnon.
Mullens called his outing “decent,” adding: “You come in with a three-possession lead so your job is to manage the game, move the chains and create a rhythm.”
OTHER INJURIES » Defensive end Kerry Hyder and linebacker Dre Greenlaw were among other those injured before the 49ers began intentionally clearing their bench for precautionary reasons. The Jets lost wide receiver Breshad Perriman, center Connor McGovern and cornerbacks Quincy WIlson and Arthur Maulet.