For the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery on March 8, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo spoke to the media Thursday as he did a round of interviews with SiriusXM radio.
Garoppolo discussed a lot of topics, including his shoulder and – of course – the Deebo Samuel trade request situation with the 49ers.
The 49ers were expected to deal Garoppolo heading into the offseason, but he elected to get surgery just six days before the NFL league year started on March 14. For now, Garoppolo and his $26.9 million salary are still on the books. Garoppolo shared an update on his surgically-repaired shoulder and his rehab.
“I’m not where I want to be yet. The shoulder surgery, obviously, it went well. Rehab’s been going great,” Garoppolo Sirius XM NFL Radio. “But it’s a process. I knew going into the surgery what it was going to take to get the shoulder back right. We’ll be throwing here soon. I just have to keep going in the right direction. It’s a long offseason. It’s already been crazy with all the trades, guys going to different teams, whatever it is.”
Garoppolo said he will be throwing again by training camp in mid- to late July.
“I’ll definitely be ready,” Garoppolo said. “To what degree, we don’t really know that yet. We haven’t even started throwing yet. We still got a little ways to go. But it’s feeling good right now. I’m pretty happy with where I’m at.”
According to the Bay Area News Group’s Cam Inman, Sirius XM host Adam Schein also asked Garoppolo if he think he’ll be back with the 49ers this fall.
“Uh, I don’t know, honestly,” Garoppolo said, via Inman. “There are a couple of different scenarios that played out. I think the shoulder is going to be a big part of it.”
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Garoppolo also weighed in on the Samuel saga that’s played out in public this offseason, and went to bat for his teammate.
“I don’t know the exact – what’s going on behind the scenes, what the reasons are for everything,” Garoppolo said. “But what they’d be getting in Deebo is one of the best players I’ve ever played with,. One of the best football players, one of the best guys I’ve ever played with.
“I’ve been with Deebo since he was a rookie, so I’ve seen him evolve and grow. The way he sets the tone though for us – in practice, in the game, in the meeting room, whatever it is – the dude, he puts his heart into it. You gotta appreciate a guy like that, a teammate who’s willing to put it all on the line for you. However this whole thing works out for him, he deserves his money. He’s gonna get it one way or another. I just wish the best for him.”
