Garoppolo ready to get started at quarterback for Raiders after delay

HENDERSON, Nev. — Jimmy Garoppolo’s introductory news conference was delayed a day, but after some details of his contract with the Las Vegas Raiders were finalized, he finally took the podium Friday.

Whether he’s the Raiders’ long-term answer at quarterback remains to be seen, and given Garoppolo’s injury history, that’s always a question.

He also could be a bridge for the Raiders, who own the No. 7 pick and five of the first 109 selections, if they try to find their quarterback of the future in next month’s draft. If so, that could put Garoppolo in a role similar to Alex Smith in 2017, when he served as a mentor before Patrick Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter.

“I’m coming in with the mindset that I need to earn everything,” Garoppolo said. “I don’t want to be given any, ‘You’re the franchise guy’ or whatever. I want to come in and earn it. I think that’ll come through hard work, working with the teammates, being at the facility.”

Garoppolo signed his threeyear, $67.5 million contract Friday morning, $34 million of which is guaranteed.

He joins a Raiders team coming off a 6-11 season, but with an offense that includes wide receivers Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Renfrow as well as running back Josh Jacobs.

“Whenever you’ve got skill position guys like that, the run after catch, I’m a big believer,” Garoppolo said. “I think if you give them an accurate ball, if you’ve got the right guys that can make a play, we seem to have the right guys here.”

Garoppolo, 31, has had several significant injuries. In 2018, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in San Francisco’s third game, and in 2020 he missed eight games with ankle injuries.

The 49ers had planned to trade Garoppolo before last season and start Trey Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 draft whom San Francisco gave up three first-round picks to acquire. Garoppolo underwent offseason shoulder surgery, killing trade interest in him from other clubs, so the 49ers re-signed him at a reduced deal.

When Lance was injured two games into the season, Garoppolo again took over as the starter. He was having his best year, throwing 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions in 10 games, before going down with a season-ending foot injury.