Shanahan expects Garoppolo to remain starter
SANTA CLARA — Kyle Shanahan is aware of the speculation surrounding the future of the 49ers’ quarterback spot currently occupied by Jimmy Garoppolo. And San Francisco’s coach made one of his most declarative statements Tuesday regarding the uncertainty for 2021, though he didn’t make any guarantees.
“I expect Jimmy to be our starter next year,” Shanahan said on a Zoom conference call at the start of San Francisco’s bye week.
Garoppolo has been out since Nov. 1 when he suffered a second high ankle sprain to his right leg since the season began. Shanahan indicated he remains optimistic Garoppolo can return in December, perhaps for a playoff run if the 49ers (4-6) can reel off an unexpected winning streak following their three straight lopsided defeats to the Seahawks, Packers and Saints by a combined score of 98-57.
“I expect him to come and play with us this year. We have six games left. We are not out of the playoffs yet,” Shanahan said.
Then he made an indication it’s not a certainty Garoppolo, and his non-guaranteed $26.6 million cap figure, will be around next season. Garoppolo’s numbers have been down across the board in games he played in 2020, though the 49ers have been dealt a brutal hand when it comes to injuries as they try to defend their conference championship.
“We’ve got to do one game at a time and I hope Jimmy can come back and be a part of that, but to think that we’ve made any decisions on somebody going into the future, this isn’t the case,” Shanahan said. “Jimmy has won a lot of games for us this year. It’s a lot harder to win games when he’s not here and I’m just hoping we can get him back (this season).”
Suffice to say, there remain a lot of moving parts when it comes to Shanahan’s decision on his starting quarterback for 2021. The team could end up in a position to add a quarterback early in the coming draft, or perhaps another veteran will become available in a trade or free agency that could provide a possible upgrade.
What Shanahan said Tuesday didn’t close any possibilities, including the potential of Garoppolo coming back, despite having two of his three seasons since signing his $137.5 million contract derailed by injuries. He’s currently dealing with a right ankle issue after tearing the ACL in his left knee in the third game of
2018.
Reinforcements coming after the bye
The 49ers should look like a different team when they return from their bye to play the Rams Nov. 29 in their first look at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Shanahan said he’s hopeful cornerback Richard Sherman (calf), running backs Raheem Mostert (high ankle sprain) and Tevin Coleman (knee sprain) and receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring strain) back for the NFC West match up. Sherman,
currently on injured reserve, had his practice window opened last week. He would join Jason Verrett in the starting lineup to give San Francisco’s defense two cornerbacks capable of playing at a Pro Bowl level against L.A.
Shanahan was asked what kind of boost Samuel, Mostert and Sherman could bring in their returns.
“Just those two guys (Samuel and Mostert), it’s a huge boost,” Shanahan said. “Getting guys who you depend on, who’ve done a lot for us, I think you guys can see how Deebo’s been in just the games he’s played this year. How Sherm’s been, just even when he came out to practice the boost he gives.”