Garoppolo in better place for encounter with Rams
Jimmy Garoppolo is set to start for the 49ers on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams as San Francisco looks to bounce back from a pair of home losses.
Garoppolo will have the chance to prove he’s fully recovered from his high ankle sprain.
He was a full participant in practice again Friday, meaning he participated all week, just like last week — which ended with a pair of interceptions, a halftime benching over health concerns and a disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins.
In his career, Garoppolo is 3- 0 against the Rams. Getting to 4- 0 will require an against- the- odds, nopain-no-gain approach Sunday night.
So what makes head coach Kyle Shanahan conf ident that Garoppolo can play through an ankle sprain better than last game?
“Jimmy’s in a better spot this week than last week,” Shanahan said Friday. “I’m not thinking about the ankle. I expect him to go out and play well.”
Two of Garoppolo’s wins over the Rams came in thrilling fashion last season, and the other finished off his December 2017 dominance as he flashed his potential to be the 49ers’ next great quarterback.
None of those victories came with him battling a high ankle sprain, something he must overcome Sunday night when the 49ers (2-3) host the Rams (4-1).
“The ankle is feeling great this week, made a lot of improvements and had couple extra days to get
better,” Garoppolo said. “It’s one of those things you have to keep working at it.”
Garoppolo lasted only the first half of last Sunday’s upset loss to the Dolphins. Perhaps it’s surprising he even went that long before Shanahan relieved him with C. J. Beathard.
Garoppolo’s ankle was targeted on his very first pass. After he took a shotgun snap and slid further in the pocket, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel dived at Garoppolo’s legs after a third- down incomplete pass already set sail. A few series later, Van Ginkel beat tight end Ross Dwelley and clobbered an unsuspecting Garoppolo in the back.
“Unfortunately, on the very first series, he got hit low at the end of the play, and just the way he responded, the way I saw him gingerly on one leg, it didn’t look right,” general manager John Lynch said Friday on KNBR 680-AM. “That affected his ability to rotate and throw the ball effectively.”
Asked Friday about it, Garoppolo countered: “The hit didn’t really bother me. He went a little low and it didn’t bother me too much.”
Former 49ers quarterback Steve Young is concerned not just over Garoppolo’s health but his trust level with Shanahan, something Young has questioned since the Niners’ Super Bowl loss in February.
“It’s not in tatters right now, but it needs to get better,” Young said on KNBR of the relationship. “… I’m sure Kyle at (last Sunday’s) half — Jimmy was hurt, I get that — but Kyle was also frustrated with Jimmy. I’m sure Kyle is like, ‘ Guys are coming open, you’re rushing through it, slow it down.’ I think that’s what’s got to happen quickly.”
A year ago, the 49ers scored 20 unanswered points to win 20-7 at Los Angeles in Week 6, then Garoppolo converted a pair of third-and-16 passes on a winning drive in their Week 16 rematch at Levi’s Stadium.
Garoppolo said the Rams’ anticipated visit led Thursday to the best practice of the season, echoing tight end George Kittle’s impression of the session. “It was just how locked in people were,” Garoppolo said. “This whole week there’s a sense of urgency around the building you feel. On the field, guys are locked in and that’s what you need.”
Aside from seeing cornerback Jalen Ramsey line up in the slot more, Garoppolo said the Rams defense offers its usual challenge, adding: “Gotta handle them up front, and in the back end, they’re very talented. It’ll be a good test for us.”
This being the Rams’ divisional opener, they hyped it up with a social media video. The closing scene: a sack on Garoppolo.
RUNNING BACK OPTIONS >> Raheem Mostert returned well last Sunday from a 21/2-game absence, and the Florida native’s motivation not only was to take on the Miami Dolphins, but to prepare for the tougher schedule.
“These next games we have, there are going to be some challenging times,” Mostert said. “I wanted to bounce back from my injury and I did just that. I came out and played hard. There is a lot I messed up mentally, like protections, and that’s something I want to hone in on this week to do all the details to contribute to a win.”
While Mostert had 11 carries for 90 yards, Jerick McKinnon was limited to just one carry. Look for McKinnon to get more relief snaps this week. Jeff Wilson Jr.’s calf injury has him questionable, so JaMycal Hasty also may see more action. CORNERBACK SHUFFLE >> Shanahan expects to welcome back Emmanuel Moseley, who missed the past 11/2 games with a concussion. Moseley is questionable because he must clear a contact drill, but Shanahan anticipates that to happen and for Moseley to start Sunday. Ahkello Witherspoon would start if Moseley cannot, Shanahan said.
While Jason Verrett makes his fourth straight start, Jamar Taylor figures to fill the nickelback role a second straight week in place of K’Waun Williams (knee).
Dontae Johnson (groin) is out, and with Richard Sherman (calf) still on injured reserve, the only other cornerback on the current roster is Ken Webster. Available via the 49ers practice squad are Brian Allen, last week’s emergency starter who failed spectacularly, or Tim Harris Jr., who’s yet to make his NFL debut.
Safety Marcell Harris (ankle) is questionable.
ALEXANDER’S STATUS >> Linebacker Kwon Alexander is ruled out with a high ankle sprain, but it is not severe enough to immediately put him on injured reserve. He did not practice this week for the first time all season.
Dre Greenlaw, who’ll start in place of Alexander, said the defense is eager to rebound from last Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins. “Everybody has done a great job putting their foot on the gas and not feeling sorry for ourselves. We’ve got a lot of football left.
“Everyone is pretty eager to show the world what we can do.”
REINFORCEMENTS DELAYED >> Center Weston Richburg and defensive linemen Ronald Blair and Jullian Taylor will not be coming off the physically-unable-to-perform list next week, their earliest possible return date. Instead, Shanahan said their knee rehabilitations likely will delay their comebacks until between Weeks 10 and 12.
Shanahan said: “Blair had a setback and they had to redo some things to the knee. He’s doing better from that.”
ARMSTEAD’S AWARD >> Arik Armstead’s community outreach earned him special recognition Friday from his 49ers teammates.
Armstead is this year’s recipient of the team’s Perry/ Yonamine Unity Award, named after Joe “The Jet” Perry and Wally Yonamine for their unity and diversity efforts.
The 49ers will donate $10,000 in Armstead’s honor toward the Players Philanthropy Fund which has helped with the Armstead Academic Project. Earlier this year, Armstead donated $50,000 toward laptops and pre-paid internet to Sacramentoarea students.
Armstead has opened his media sessions this season by discussing social and racial inequalities.