Garoppolo on the verge of his first start against the Seahawks
SANTA CLARA » Trivia time: Name the team Jimmy Garoppolo threw his first touchdown pass against in his 49ers debut?
Hint: It was to Louis Murphy — a 10-yard strike on a 10-step rollout as time expired Nov. 26, 2017 in late relief of an injured C. J. Beathard.
The 49ers lost 24-13 that day to the Seattle Seahawks, who, nearly two years later, return to Levi’s Stadium on Monday night to face Garoppolo for the first time since then.
“That seems like a lifetime ago,” Garoppolo said.
“Year in and year out, they’re always one of the top teams. It’ll be a great challenge for us and it will be a good atmosphere Monday night.”
Garoppolo got so caught up in the festive atmosphere after last game, after the 49ers improved to 8- 0 with a Thursday night win in Arizona, that he uttered a since-viral line, “Feels great, baby,” to Fox reporter Erin Andrews.
“I didn’t expect it to blow up like that,” Garoppolo said. “Yeah, I was excited. 8- 0, baby! ... I say ‘ baby’ like
500 times throughout a game to my teammates and stuff. It wasn’t like that.”
Garoppolo also feels great about the 49ers’ offense now that he’s two years into it. He had a career-high four-touchdown passes with 317 yards last week against Arizona. His ability to quickly get off a pass — 2.54 seconds per attempt, according to the NFL’s NextGen Stats — has kept his rebuilt left knee out of harm’s way and put the timing-based passing attack in rhythm.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has noticed. As he doled out the requisite compliments about Garoppolo on a Thursday call with Bay Area media, Carroll slipped in one facet that’s been vital to this year’s comeback success by Garoppolo and the 49ers: “He’s got a real good, quick release.”
Left tackle Joe Staley, poised to return from a six-game absence, wants Garoppolo to keep that quick trigger, not that Garoppolo altered his approach merely because he’s been without Staley since Week 3 and without right tackle Mike McGlinchey the past four games.
“I’ve been telling Jim, ‘Don’t change when I come back now. Don’t hold the ball for 10 seconds.’” Staley said with a laugh.
Both Staley and McGlinchey practiced Wednesday and are on track to return Monday, after being capably subbed for by Justin Skule and Daniel Brunskill.
Sacked 13 times in three starts last year, Garoppolo’s been sacked 12 times halfway through this season, in nearly 250 drop backs (226 pass attempts, 28 carries that mostly were scrambles).
“That’s one of his strengths, his pocket awareness and the way he’s able to feel through the pocket,” Staley added. “It’s improving as he gets more comfortable in his offense, understanding his reads and where he’s supposed to go.”
Garoppolo is on pace for 3,612 yards and 26 touchdowns — the most by a 49ers QB since
Jeff Garcia in 2000 — as well as 14 interceptions and 24 sacks.
• George Kittle remained out of practice after an MRI revealed “issues” and “things in his knee and ankle,” said coach Kyle Shanahan, who listed the tight end as day-to- day and a likely game-time decision. Garoppolo said of how Kittle is coping after last game’s injuries: “He’s still George, playing pranks on people, still the same old guy. He’s a high- energy guy and you love to have that in the locker room.”
• Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon said he is also dealing with a quadriceps issue while recovering from an Oct. 7 foot injury. He’s yet to resume practicing, and he said he hasn’t had a physical setback, merely that his timetable to return has been delayed.
• Wide receivers Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd remain candidates to come off injured reserve next month, and Hurd perhaps might be the more likely option for a comeback as early as Dec. 1 at Baltimore. Shanahan said Taylor developed an infection after his foot surgery that “cost him some time.”
• Fullback Kyle Juszczyk ( knee) practiced and looks to return from a four-game absence. Right guard Mike Person had the day off to rest, and Ben Garland filled in at his spot.
• Carroll endorsed the potential head- coaching candidacy of Robert Saleh, the 49ers’ third-year defensive coordinator and one of Carroll’s defensive assistants from 201113. “He’s a very bright coach, a first- class individual, he has really good strength of character and his leadership qualities are obviously on display now. There’s no doubt, no doubt,” Carroll said.
• Earl Mitchell, the 49ers’ nose tackle the previous two seasons, announced his retirement Thursday. He appeared in 130 games in a nine-year career that began with the Houston Texans (2010- 13) and Miami Dolphins (201416). He spent training camp this year with the Seahawks and was cut after the exhibition season.