49ers await ‘good news’ on Jimmy Garoppolo, forge ahead with Brock Purdy, Josh Johnson
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ quarterback carousel did not have coach Kyle Shanahan in a foul mood Monday. Quite the contrary, and for good reason.
First, Jimmy Garoppolo’s left foot fracture might not be as severe as initially feared, though the team still expects him to miss the rest of the season. The 49ers will await confirmation from a specialist about whether Garoppolo’s fracture is a Lisfranc (midfoot) fracture or something with a shorter recovery time. Garoppolo was in “good spirits” while attending Monday’s team meeting, Shanahan said.
“They were talking about (a possible Lisfranc fracture) last night, but they’re starting to believe that it isn’t, so that’s good news,” Shanahan said. “but it’s not all for sure done yet. Some specialist has to finalize it so we don’t want to give you any false information.”
Meanwhile, Shanahan came away impressed by rookie Brock Purdy’s relief appearance in Sunday’s 33-17 win over Miami, and that reinforced the first-place 49ers’ confidence with a five-game win streak on the line next Sunday against Tampa Bay.
As for adding quarterback help, Shanahan covets a veteran backup familiar with his scheme, so he said they’re “fortunate” to re-sign journeyman Josh Johnson, who ditched the Denver Broncos’ practice squad for a fourth term in the 49ers’ quarterback room.
Sure, Baker Mayfield emerged Monday as a veteran option once the Carolina Panthers waived him, and, yes, Shanahan complimented the 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick by the Cleveland Browns. But the 49ers’ coach couched his words. The 49ers are 24th in the waiver-wire order, so any claim could be moot, and Shanahan said he’d be surprised by a Mayfield move.
Shanahan said of Mayfield. “I’ve always been a fan of his, but I feel real good about our players. We’ll look into everything but I feel good with where we’re at right now.”
After boasting how the first-place 49ers (8-4) are “built for this” adversity that comes with losing quarterbacks Trey Lance (Week 2) and now Garoppolo to injuries, Shanahan wrapped up his Monday media conference call with some humor, reflecting his team’s rejuvenated spirit after Sunday’s emotional roller coaster.
Reporter: “Have any retired quarterbacks reached out to the 49ers? Have you looked into any?”
Shanahan: “No, we haven’t. Still waiting on Joe (Montana) to call.”
Reporter: “Steve (Young) would be offended.”
Shanahan: “Steve? I’m definitely ready for Steve. I think he can still run it. Let’s do it.”
Young, by the way, endorsed Purdy.
“Let’s not get too crazy,” Young said on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown, “but yesterday, you saw Kyle Shanahan’s innovation in getting the ball out of his hands. This is a guy that can get the job done, and in the NFC, in a one-game (matchup) vs. the Eagles or one game vs. the Cowboys, absolutely he can still do it.”
So, Purdy gets the gig as their replacement starter in a push toward a third playoff berth in four years. Shanahan noted that Purdy will get his first first-team practice reps since a few token ones in training camp, and that Johnson would run the scout team.
Purdy, in his third appearance this season and most extensive action, completed 25-of-37 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and three sacks in the rout of the Dolphins.
Young, the last 49ers quarterback to win a Super Bowl, endorsed Purdy’s fearlessness and capability to keep the franchise on the playoff track. “Because they’re in the NFC, they’re in the mix, and with that defense, they’re in the mix,” Young said on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown. “Brock Purdy, at the end of training camp, you heard he’s in the mix and is a player and will stick around and do things.”
What made Garoppolo’s injury further devastating, Young added, was what it could mean for “the burgeoning relationship” between Garoppolo and Shanahan after their near breakup this offseason. “I started to sense there was a reason they’d stay together long-term,” Young added. “But because of another season-ending injury, I don’t think that’s going to happen in San Francisco. That’s probably going to break in the end. It’s unfortunate because they were starting to build something really special between the two of them.”
Although Garoppolo’s close-knit family helped get him through what Shanahan figured was a rough night, Monday brought some smiles.
“Jimmy came in today and was upbeat,” Shanahan said. “It’s a big deal. He’s hurting. But it was good to see him today, just being positive and being able to give him a hug and stuff like that.
“His journey starts coming back from this, which won’t be a problem. He’ll come back, no problem.”
BOSA’S HAMSTRING PAIN
Nick Bosa came away with “hamstring irritation” that will have to be managed this week, Shanahan said. Bosa’s three sacks Sunday pushed him into the NFL lead with 14 1/2 this season. Bosa has missed 1 1/2 games this season, because of a groin injury in October.
ARMSTEAD IN, RIDGEWAY OUT
Defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway strained a pectoral muscle, and although he’ll avoid surgery, he’ll be out six to eight weeks, Shanahan said. That foils his impactful season for the NFL’s No. 1 rushing defense. Ridgeway, their beefiest defensive lineman (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) was signed as a free agent, after playing his first three seasons with the Colts and the previous three with the Eagles, the latter being a potential playoff foe this season.
Ridgeway moved out of the starting lineup Sunday as Arik Armstead returned from his seven-game absence for ankle and foot injuries. In playing 21 of 46 defensive snaps, Armstead had no tackles, but his one quarterback hit led to the first of four interceptions, that one nabbed by Jimmie Ward.
Safety Tarvarius Moore sprained a knee Sunday and will miss multiple weeks, Shanahan said in Monday’s only other injury news.
THE TRAGIC SACK
Garoppolo got hurt eight snaps into his work shift, when sacked at the 49ers’ 29-yard line by Jaelan Phillips and Jerome Baker, the latter of whom came unblocked around left tackle Trent Williams while Phillips rushed up field against right tackle Mike McGlinchey. Garoppolo took the snap with one second left on the play clock, backpedaled, nearly shook Baker then carried both pass rushers as he fought to regain 5 yards and limit the sack to a 10-yard loss. Robbie Gould followed by making a 47-yard field goal (rather than a 52-yard attempt).
Former 49ers left tackle Joe Staley, appearing on KNBR on Monday, described the blocking assignments: “The rules are from an offensive line standpoint is you block inside out, so you slide protection one way, that particular protection they were definitely calling ‘three-scat,’ ‘three-gone,’ whatever. ‘Three’ says the left side is the man side, so they’re blocking inside out, and if they have double A-gap, B-gap pressure, they’re going to squeeze down into that.
“The quarterback is also tied into that,” Staley continued. “He knows my hot routes are where I’m going to go with the ball quick, because there is going to be a guy unblocked. If he can’t get the ball out quick, he’s going to roll out right and away from the pressure. It’s an unfortunate situation. They must have taken away the hot route to get the ball out of the hands quick.”
MAKING A POINT
More NFL games than ever have been decided by a touchdown or less through 13 weeks, but among those 85 games, the 49ers were part of only two, their 11-10 loss in Week 3 at Denver and last month’s 22-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
It’s been a boom-or-bust approach. They’ve won by 20, 15, 22, 17, six, 28, 13 and 16 points (17.1 average), and they’ve lost by nine, one, 14 and 21 points (11.3 average). Overall, the 49ers have outscored their opponents by 92 points, the fourth-largest point differential in the league.