Niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo can’t wait for his next game.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — There was not a Rocky Mountain Five for Jimmy Garoppolo.
On Friday, two days after the 49ers quarterback threw interceptions on five consecutive passes in practice, he had different results in a different state.
In the first of two joint practices with the Broncos, Garoppolo resembled the QB who had enjoyed a strong training camp before the pick parade that launched a slew of national headlines.
Yes, Garoppolo’s performance — in a practice — became a reasonably big story and served as another reminder that the NFL is king, even when it is still three weeks away from playing games that matter.
“I know (Garoppolo) got a lot of flak for it,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said of the fallout.
On Friday, Garoppolo completed 10 of 15 passes, saw a wouldbe touchdown pass dropped and threw an interception. It wasn’t flawless, but it was enough to help Garoppolo offer a weak smile when asked about his fivepick disaster.
“I mean, you guys are seeing me a couple days removed, but that day I was pretty ticked off,” Garoppolo said. “The defense got the best of me that day.”
“You can’t dwell on those things. We’re past that, on to Denver now.” Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers quarterback
Head coach Kyle Shanahan had suggested Wednesday that Garoppolo began forcing throws, trying to make up for his past interception, and that led to his avalanche of errors.
But Garoppolo said the problem wasn’t his mind, but his eyes.
“It was just five bad decisions,” he said.
Garoppolo was polite, but not eager to rehash what happened in great detail. After the second question about his five picks, he channeled Bill Belichick, his coach with the Patriots who is known for brushing off unwanted queries by looking ahead to the next opponent.
“You can’t dwell on those things,” Garoppolo said. “We’re past that, on to Denver now.”
To be clear, no one really thought a miserable training camp practice meant Garoppolo was suddenly finished at 27. Still, it was an ugly performance that was immediately followed by another milestone step in his recovery from the ACL tear he sustained in September: Friday’s practice was the first time Garoppolo had faced another team since he was injured against the Chiefs.
In addition, he was up against a wellrespected defense that includes two Pro Bowlers, outside linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Chris Harris, along with outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, who had 12 sacks last year as a rookie.
In other words, Garoppolo was facing some adversity, albeit mild.
And he offered immediate evidence that he wouldn’t have backtoback stinkers.
Garoppolo completed his first eight throws and later threw a highbutcatchable pass that slipped through tight end Ross Dwelley’s hands in the back of the end zone in a redzone period. Garoppolo’s interception came on backfoot throw as he was pressured by Miller. Garoppolo’s throw, intended for wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, was easily picked off by safety Justin Simmons, and Garoppolo threw it as Miller was rolling on the ground near his legs.
Garoppolo said a fear of injury wasn’t a reason for the poor throw.
“No, I just left it a little short and didn’t get enough air on it,” Garoppolo said. “He made a nice play on it.”
Garoppolo has another milestone in his recovery upcoming: He is expected to play in his first game since his injury on Monday night when the 49ers meet the Broncos in their second exhibition contest.
Shanahan has indicated Garoppolo’s performance in the joint practices could dictate his playing time Monday: That is, he could only have a cameo if he has another strong outing in Saturday’s session.
Another stinker might mean more playing time — and more razzing from teammates who talked some goodnatured trash after Wednesday’s practice.
“I would do the same thing if I threw five TDs on them,” Garoppolo said. “It goes back and forth, and I love that. If they weren’t giving me crap about that, I would be a little concerned.”