Garoppolo to play through ankle injury
49ers QB puts his 3-0 record against the Rams on the line
Jimmy Garoppolo is 3- 0 against the Los Angeles Rams. Getting to 4- 0 will require an against-the- odds, no-pain-nogain approach Sunday night.
So what makes coach Kyle Shanahan confident that Garoppolo can play through an ankle sprain better than last game?
“Jimmy’s in a better spot this week than last week,” Shanahan said Friday. “I’m not thinking about the ankle. I expect him to go out and play well.”
Two of Garoppolo’swins over theRams came in thrilling fashion last season, and the other finished off his December 2017 dominance as the 49ers’ next great quarterback.
None of those victories came with him battling a high-ankle
sprain, something hemust overcome Sunday night when the 49ers (2-3) host the Rams (4-1).
Garoppolo lasted only the first half of last Sunday’s upset loss to the Miami Dolphins. Perhaps it’s surprising he even went that long before Shanahan relieved him with C. J. Beathard.
Garoppolo’s ankle got targeted on his very first pass. After he took a shotgun snap and slid further in the pocket, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel dove at Garoppolo’s legs after a thirddown incompletion already set sail. A few series later, Van Ginkel beat tight end Ross Dwelley and promptly clobbered an unsuspecting
Garoppolo in the back.
“Unfortunately, on the very first series, he got hit low at the end of the play, and just the way he responded, the way I saw him gingerly on one leg, it didn’t look right,” general manager John Lynch said Friday on
KNBR 680-AM. “That affected his ability to rotate and throw the ball effectively.
“Not an excuse. What I saw on the field. But Jimmy’s a competitor, came back and made nice throws. But it never materialized.”
Former 49ers quarterback Steve Young is concerned not just over Garoppolo’s health but his trust level with Shanahan, something Young has questioned since the Super Bowl loss and its first-half finish.
“It’s not in tatters right now, but it needs to get better,” Young said on KNBR. “... I’m sure Kyle at ( last Sunday’s) half — Jimmy was hurt, I get that — but Kyle was also frustrated with Jimmy. I’m sure Kyle is like, ‘Guys are coming open, you’re rushing through it, slow it down.’ I think that’s what’s got to happen quickly.”
A year ago, the 49ers scored 20 unanswered points to win 20-7 at Los Angeles in Week 6, then Garoppolo converted a pair of third- and-16 passes on a winning drive in their Week 16 rematch at Levi’s Stadium.
This being the Rams’ divisional opener, they hyped it up with a socialmedia video. The closing scene: a sack on Garoppolo.
RUNNING BACK OPTIONS » Raheem Mostert returned well last Sunday froma 2½-game absence, and the Florida native’s motivation not only was to take on the Dolphins, but to prepare for the tougher slate now upon the 49ers.
“These next games we have, there are going to be some challenging times,” Mostert said. “I wanted to bounce back from my injury and I did just that. I came out and played hard. There is a lot I messed up mentally, like protections, and that’s somethingIwant to hone in on this week to do all the details to contribute to a win.”
While Mostert had 11 carries for 90 yards, JerickMcKinnon was limited to just one carry, and look forMcKinnon to getmore relief snaps this week. Jeff WilsonJr.’s calf injury has him questionable, so JaMycal Hasty could be in line for more action. CORNERBACK SHUFFLE » The 49ers will start their sixth different collection of cornerbacks in as many games, but this time they should welcome back EmmanuelMoseley, who missed the past 1½ games with a concussion. Moseley is questionable because he must clear a contact drill but Shanahan anticipates that to happen and for Moseley to start Sunday.
Ahkello Witherspoon would start if Moseley cannot, Shanahan said.
While Jason Verrett makes his fourth straight start, Jamar Taylor figures to fill the nickel back role a second straight week in place of K’Waun Williams (knee).
Dontae Johnson (groin) is out, and with Richard Sherman (calf) still on injured reserve, the only other cornerback on the current roster is Ken Webster. Available via the 49ers practice squad are Brian Allen, last week’s emergency starter who failed spectacularly, or Tim Harris Jr., who’s yet to make his NFL debut.