Shanahan ‘expects’ Garoppolo to start in 2021
SANTA CLARA >> When it comes to Jimmy Garoppolo’s 49ers future, there are two time periods to consider.
First is this season’s remaining six games. Coach Kyle Shanahan is “holding out hope” Garoppolo returns from an ankle injury for the final few, so long as the 49ers (4- 6) rally enough to “come back for a reason.”
More pertinent to the 49ers’ long- term outlook is whether Garoppolo will return in 2021, with a $24 million salary in each of the final two seasons of his contract (through 2022). Shanahan endorsed that but did not guarantee Garoppolo a job, nor anyone else, for that matter.
“I mean, I expect Jimmy to be our starter,” Shanahan said of next season. “I expect him to come play with us this year. We have six games left. We are not out of the playoffs yet.
“I’ve been on a team that was 3- 6 going into the bye week that ended up winning their division. We have guys on this team capable of finishing this the right way. I hope Jimmy can come back and be a part of it.”
Shanahan was Washington’s offensive coordinator in 2012 under his father, Mike, when a seven-game win streak after the bye produced the NFC East title, before a wild- card playoff loss.
But back to Garoppolo’s 2021 fate ...
“To think we’ve made any decisions on anybody going into the future isn’t the case,” Shanahan added. “Jimmy’s won a lot of games for us, and it’s a lot harder when he’s not here. Just hoping we can get him back.”
After two weeks of rest, Garoppolo has freed himself from an or thopedic boot on his right ankle, which he originally sprained Sept. 20 against the New York Jets and then did a worse number on Nov. 1 at Seattle.
Meanwhile, Nick Mullens remains the 49ers’ replacement starter, and
Shanahan said he has no design son rotating Mullens with C. J. Beat hard throughout games, but if that does happen, it’s “not a pivotal discussion” as they’re merely “trying to hold down the fort.” POST-BYE RETURNS >> Running back Raheem Mo ste rt( ankle ), wide re- ceiver Deebo Samuel ( hamstring) and corner back Richard Sherman (calf) are expected to return from extended absences and play in the 49ers’ next game, Nov. 29 against the host Los Angeles Rams.
“That stuff is going to help big. That’s some juice we need,” Shanahan said. “But we also don’t have much room for error with where our record is. So I can’t count on those guys just to come in and change everything.”
Shanahan also hopes towel comeback running back Tevin Coleman (knee) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles( ham string) to face the Rams. Running back Jeff Wilson( ankle) and linebacker Mark Nzeocha (quadriceps) are more likely to come back against Buffalo ( Dec. 7, Levi’s Stadium).
Cornerback K’Waun Williams (ankle) is still slated to miss multiple games, along with Garoppolo, tight end George Kittle (foot fracture) and center Ben Garland (calf).
Added to the injured
reserve list Tuesday were running back Ja Mycal Hasty (collar bone) and safeties Johnathan Cyprien ( hamstring) and Jared May den( quadriceps; practice squad ). COVID-19 ALERTS >> Defensive lineman Arik Armstead’s addition to the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list Monday prompted the 49ers to do a thorough tracing of potential highrisk contacts. Considering he played 40 snaps Sunday and f lew home with the team from New Orleans, the contact tracing is quite important, and no contacts were identified or announced by the club as of Tuesday afternoon.
With the 49ers under the NFL’s extreme COVID-19 protocol for a second straight week, and because this is a bye week, Shanahan opted to delay
their light workouts to Friday and Saturday. The team used video conferences to review film Tuesday from Sunday’s loss at New Orleans.
EXTRA POINTS >> Of a ll their 41 pending f ree agents, left tackle Trent Williams might be the 49ers’ most important. Shanahan wants to retain him while acknowledging salary cap economics make for tough calls. “I know Trent is very important tome and our team and someone I want around here for a while,” said Shanahan, whose 49ers made a draft- day trade to acquire Williams in the final year of his contract.
•Line backer Kiko Alonso won’t make his 49ers debut in the remaining games. Acquired in a trade from New Orleans for a fifth-round draft pick and linebacker Kwon Alexander, Alonso did not practice last week with the 49ers and thus a three-week practice window expired on activating him off the physicallyunable- to- perform list ( knee). The 31- yearold Los Gatos native is a pending free agent.
• The 49ers again will attempt to claim defensive end Takkarist McKinley off waive rs. The Kennedy High-Richmond product failed his physical with the Cincinnati Bengals, who previously claimed him of f waivers from the Atlanta Falcons. McKinley was a 2017 first-round draft pick out of UCLA and has 171/2 career sacks.