SANTA CLARA – As deflating as it was to see Trey Lance carted off the field with a season-ending ankle injury in Sunday’s 27-7 win over the Seattle Seahawks, you couldn’t help but notice the buzz in Levi’s Stadium when Jimmy Garoppolo took over under center.
To think, the 49ers season could have been all but over, not even five quarters in. No offense to seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy, but the Niners’ Super Bowl chances likely would have dimmed to nil with him at the controls.
Now that No. 10 is under center? San Francisco can still be viewed as a contender.
“Just like riding a bike,” Garoppolo said of returning to game action. “It felt good to be back out there. Feel terrible for Trey, I’ve been on that side of it, this league is tough and everyone has their share of injuries, but that sucks for him. Feel bad for him, but he’s our brother and we’ll pick him up.”
This is why the 49ers restructured the final year on Jimmy G’s contract, reducing his base pay to $6.5 million from $24.2 million before the season. Not only was Garoppolo the league’s best backup before Lance got hurt, but he obviously has six seasons in coach Kyle Shanahan’s system.
Garoppolo started out hot as can be, dropping dimes all over the field while going 5-for-5 for 80 yards and a touchdown. On the scoring play, Garoppolo found a wide open tight end – unlike Lance last week – and Ross Dwelley hauled it in for a 38-yard touchdown.
Garoppolo finished the afternoon 13-of-21 for 154 yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing score. Jimmy G pounded the ball in on a QB sneak from 1-yard out with 1:51 left to put icing on the Niners' victory. Afterwards, he was mobbed by his teammates in the end zone, who all took turns slapping his helmet in celebration.
“He looks good. Still handsome,” Shanahan quipped after the game. “He did a good job coming off the bench, made some real key throws. … Real proud of Jimmy and how he came in and was ready for the moment, and helped us get a win.”
There’s still plenty of love for Jimmy G in the Niners locker room, but they’re clearly hurting for Lance.
“Obviously, we don’t want that to happen,” Kyle Juszczyk said of Lance’s injury. “I don’t want to downplay at all how much we feel for Trey. We truly do, on a personal level, on a professional level. But that’s why you buy car insurance. That’s what Jimmy is for us. That’s huge that he’s able to come in here and we really don’t have to change too much. He’s been running this offense for five, six years, whatever it is now. He knows what he’s doing.”
Garoppolo had a license to seek a trade this offseason and probably had the weight within the 49ers organization to demand a release. As he let the NFL quarterback carousel play out while he rehabbed his shoulder, which needed surgery on March 8, Garoppolo’s suitor list shrunk until his best situation was with San Francisco.
Considering Garoppolo’s incentive-laden contract – which pays him $250,000 per game for playing more than 25 percent of his team’s offensive snaps, and another $100,000 for those contests where he wins – Jimmy G’s deal will work out for both sides.
“I’m comfortable here,” Garoppolo said. “The players, the scheme, the locker room – I’m comfortable, I’m familiar with it. Not saying I knew this was gonna happen, but I was ready for this in case it did happen and I just want to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Tackles Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey said the 49ers are well-positioned to keep holding on to their Super Bowl aspirations despite Lance’s injury.
“We couldn’t have planned it better,” Williams said, adding there was no drop off when Garoppolo entered the game. “Obviously, bringing Jimmy back was always a good thing, just for the locker room. To have him as a backup quarterback, a guy who’s still here, it’s definitely a blessing.”
“You can’t win in this league without a starting quarterback,” McGlinchey said. “Fortunately for us, we were able to keep two of ‘em. This is kinda the situation that we prepared for, why you keep a guy like Jimmy on staff. Unfortunate circumstances, but it is what it is. He gives us a chance to win. At the end of the day, we’re in a good spot because of Jimmy Garoppolo, but it’s gonna take some time for us to heal and get over something that hurts so much.”
