Jimmy Garoppolo to undergo shoulder surgery but still likely to be traded
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will reportedly undergo shoulder surgery that will keep him out of action until the summer, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Garoppolo reportedly sustained the injury during the team's wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers went on to beat the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the conference championship.
The shoulder surgery is expected to keep Garoppolo out until the summer. Despite the procedure, Garoppolo is still a candidate to be traded in March, per Schefter.
49ers’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to soon undergo shoulder surgery that would sideline him until this summer, sources tell ESPN. It is not expected to impact his trade status and Garoppolo still is likely to be traded this month, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2022
Garoppolo also dealt with a thumb issue during the team's postseason run. He will not have to undergo surgery to repair his thumb.
Garoppolo is expected to start throwing again around July 4. Garoppolo is reportedly drawing "significant interest" on the trade market, though Schefter does not mention which teams are involved. If that timeline is accurate, Garoppolo would be ready by the time offseason workouts begin.
Jimmy Garoppolo on the trade block
After five seasons with the 49ers, Garoppolo is expected to be traded during the offseason. The team selected Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, and will likely hand him the starting job in 2022.
Garoppolo, 30, is entering the final year of the 5-year, $137 million deal he signed with the 49ers in 2017. He's owed over $24 million in 2022 before hitting the free-agent market.
Garoppolo's tenure with the 49ers was defined by a lot of winning, he went 31-14 as a starter, but with average production. His numbers have been fine — Garoppolo has a 66-38 touchdown to interception ratio with the 49ers — but his ability to carry a team is in question.
There's value in that skill set, which is why teams are reportedly interested in trading for Garoppolo. With the right pieces around him, Garoppolo can win games. Teams in desperate need of a quarterback could certainly do worse.
