Niners hope Jimmy G can start vs. Rams
With his quarterback unable to move in the pocket and unable to keep his team competitive, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan replaced Jimmy Garoppolo at halftime of Sunday’s 43-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Garoppolo was immobile and ineffective in a disastrous return from a highankle sprain as he completed 7- of-17 passes for 77 yards and tossed two interceptions before Shanahan replaced him with backup C. J. Beathard.
The 49ers don’t have a quarterback controversy, but Shanahan can’t yet commit to naming Garoppolo the starter for a “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers signal-caller must first demonstrate he’s healthy at practice this week, which may not be easy for a player who
was clearly feeling the effects of a high-ankle sprain that forced him to miss the previous two games.
“I know he’s sore from the first half. I think his ankle is a little bit sore, and his body a little bit from some of the hits that he had, but nothing that made it worse,” Shanahan said Sunday. “It was like you expect it after a game. Nothing too bad happened, and we got him out of there before that did.”
Shanahan said one of the primary reasons he pulled Garoppolo was the 23-point halftime deficit the 49ers faced. With the offense needing to pass to have a chance at erasing Miami’s lead, the 49ers didn’t want Garoppolo playing on an injured ankle behind an offensive line that’s been an obvious weakness for the team this season.
“We’ll see how he is on Wednesday; I expect him to be at least the same and if not better,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully we can get a week of that Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and hopefully we get him out there Sunday night.”
Shanahan didn’t analyze Beathard’s performance during a Monday news conference and did not divulge any details on how the 49ers would proceed if Garoppolo is unable to play. But he did say he wants to prioritize the run game moving forward. The 49ers averaged 6.9 yards per carry on 19 attempts against the Dolphins, but early turnovers and a horrendous performance against Miami’s offense forced Shanahan’s offense to play from behind throughout the day.
Sherman likely to miss game against Rams
After a horrendous day for the 49ers pass defense in Sunday’s loss, the unit was ready to turn the page and welcome back veteran leader Richard Sherman from the injured reserve list.
The next page contains only bad news.
Shanahan announced that Sherman has had “setbacks” while recovering from a calf injury he suffered in Week 1 against the Cardinals, and the 49ers are no longer counting on him to play on Sunday against the Rams.
A defense that allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins to rack up 342 yards and three touchdowns through the air needs Sherman more than ever, but he’s not likely to see the field.
“Sherm had some setbacks last week,” Shanahan said. “The healing hasn’t gone the way we’re hoping for, so I know we’re going to try a few different procedures, but we’re not counting on him.”
The 49ers head coach said the procedures were not surgical, but he did not provide a timeline for when the cornerback might be available again. It’s possible Sherman could have company on injured reserve too, as linebacker Kwon Alexander has an ankle injury that could be a high ankle sprain.
Shanahan said the 49ers aren’t certain of the severity or specific nature of Alexander’s ankle injury, but indicated the team could discuss a possible injured reserve placement if he is indeed diagnosed with a high ankle sprain.
Aside from Sherman, the 49ers were also missing cornerbacks K’Waun Williams ( knee sprain), Dontae Johnson (groin injury) and Emmanuel Moseley (concussion) on Sunday against the Dolphins. Oftinjured veteran Jason Verrett started on one side of the field and the 49ers elevated Brian Allen from the practice squad to start opposite of him.
Allen had one of the worst performances of any 49ers defender in recent memory, giving up a 47yard reception on the first play from scrimmage, allowing four other catches, and committing two pass interference penalties. The 49ers finally removed Allen on the Dolphins’ fifth series and replaced him with former third-round draft pick Ahkello Witherspoon, who Shanahan said was dressed to play only in an emergency.
Witherspoon was coming off of a hamstring injury and appeared ineffective at practices during the week, so Shanahan said the 49ers felt compelled to promote Allen from the practice squad and also leave Ken Webster ahead of Witherspoon on the depth chart.
With Allen completely unreliable and Webster dealing with a tight hamstring in the second quarter, Witherspoon talked his way into the game, convincing Shanahan to let him play.
“I know I was expecting ( Witherspoon) to go that week, and I think he was too, but it didn’t look that way at all in practice,” Shanahan said. “When I talked to him, the way he described it, how tight he felt, that’s what he said. I never question guys what they tell me when you ask them, they speak what is in their heart.”
Shanahan said the 49ers decided Thursday evening that Allen would come up from the practice squad and start against Miami and added that he was “glad” Witherspoon spoke up and said he would be able to play when the defense began to struggle on Sunday.