COOL HAND UP NEXT
Garoppolo gets back to work with same calm approach after first loss
SANTA CLARA >> No, Jimmy Garoppolo can’t win ‘em all. Nor can he fake an angry-man demeanor.
As the 49ers starting quarterback comes off his first career loss, he hasn’t morphed into a rowdy cheerleader to rile up his teammates for a rebound performance in Sunday’s home opener against the Detroit Lions.
“It’s been the exact same, and I’d be disappointed if it was any different,” coach Lions at 49ers, Sunday, 1:05 p.m., FOX
Kyle Shanahan said of Garoppolo’s persona. “He didn’t have his best game last week but he doesn’t need to come in here and make stuff up.”
Added nose tackle Earl Mitchell: “That’s the biggest thing: I believe guys who bark the loudest have the weakest bite. He’s been calm, doesn’t seem fazed and that’s what you want.”
Garoppolo borrowed a page from his former Patriots life as it pertains to this week’s approach: “We’re on to Detroit.”
OK, but at least one thing is still worth revisiting from his three-interception fiasco in the 24-16 opening loss. What did he think about Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter’s postgame comment, claiming the key to defeating Garoppolo is to pressure him and that makes him “get scared.”
Garoppolo shrugged it off, knowing that defenders wouldn’t be boasting that had they had lost.
“I’ve never heard that before but it’s the way (Hunter) thinks,” Garoppolo re-
sponded. “Pressure is always a good thing in a quarterback’s eyes. It opens windows, and they have less guys in coverage.”
Here are four other impressions from Wednesday: LINEBACKER MOVES >> As bright as the future looks with an eventual lineup of Fred Warner with Reuben Foster (and possibly Malcolm Smith), the 49ers are moving forward without Brock Coyle, who went on injured reserve Wednesday with not only a concussion but also a T4 compression fracture in his back that would keep him out of contact at least six weeks.
The 49ers addressed their linebacker depth by signing Terence Garvin, who played last year for the Seattle Seahawks and can play both strong- and weak-side linebacker spots. He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013 undrafted out of West Virginia, and he also had a brief stint with Washington.
Lee or Mark Nzeocha would likely start next to Warner as the 49ers inside linebackers Sunday against the Detroit Lions if Smith can’t.
Smith did not play Sunday nor did he practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury he initially sustained Aug. 9 in the exhibition opener. The 49ers also needed linebacker depth as Foster finishes his two-game suspension, and to help replace Dekoda Watson, who went on injured reserve Saturday with a hamstring pull RECEIVER NEWS >> Marquise Goodwin’s bruised quadriceps kept him out of practice Wednesday, and if he can’t rally for the home opener, look for rookie Dante Pettis to seize those snaps, as he did upon Goodwin’s first-half exit at Minnesota.
Pettis produced the 49ers’ only touchdown when he improvised and caught a 22-yard pass from Garoppolo in the back of the end zone. “I ran to the open area of the field,” Pettis
said. “I have a pretty good feel for when a quarterback starts scrambling on where to go, so I ran to the open spot, saw the ball in the air, checked real quick it was actually going to me and just made a play.”
Garoppolo called it a “savvy move,” adding: “When those plays break down like that, it’s kind of, not a free for all, but everyone is kind of winging it, I guess. You have a game plan of what you want them to do, but things happen on
the run like that.” SECONDARY DINGED >> The healthy starter among the defensive backs? It’s cornerback Richard Sherman. Free safety Adrian Colbert (hamstring) did not practice, while limited were cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (ankle), strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) and nickel back K’Waun Williams (rib).
Colbert was seen doing individual running drills on a side field. Tartt and Williams wore non-contact jerseys as part of the team’s drills.
GUARDS GALORE >> Najee Toran got promoted from the practice squad while guards Mike Person and Joshua Garnett deal with foot injuries that kept them out of practice and had them hobbling around the facility.
Matt Tobin, who was inactive Sunday, might be in line to start at right guard if Person, Garnett nor Erik Magnuson can suit up and play. Just don’t expect rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey to slide over there like last game’s emergency
move.
“Right now I’m playing offensive tackle and back outside, barring another ‘Code Red’ situation,” McGlinchey said.
Meanwhile, left tackle Joe Staley received a veteran rest day Wednesday and did individual conditioning in the weight room rather than practice.
• The 49ers are not taking the Lions lightly. Garoppolo knows first-year Lions coach Matt Patricia from their days in New England. “They’re talented. Matty P, they’re a game-plan team,” Garoppolo said. “Across the board, good D-line, they get penetration, they set the edge, fast linebackers and talented secondary. They’re good at every level. We’ll have to come out with a good mindset.”
The Lions lost their opener 48-17 at home to the New York Jets on Monday night. Said Shanahan: “I know that was frustrating for them, but to think that it was as bad as that score was, it wasn’t. That’s what happens when a team has five interceptions, one
returned for a touchdown. They gave up two punt returns, one for a touchdown, the other one into the strike zone. It’s going to get out of hand fast when it was a lot tighter than that.”
• Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (shin) and running back LeGarrette Blount (shoulder) practiced in full. Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder) was limited.
• Wide receiver Aaron Burbridge (hamstring) reached an injury settlement and was waived off injured reserve.
• Wide receiver Frank Stephens (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) replaced Toran on the practice squad. He played at Northern Colorado after transferring from Contra Costa College.
• Garvin was among seven defensive players the 49ers worked out. The others being linebackers J.T. Thomas, Erik Walden, John Simon and Hayes Pullard, and defensive ends Ryan Delaire and Hau’oli Kikaha, according to Sirius/ XM NFL Radio’s Adam Caplan.