When will Jimmy Garoppolo return to the field? 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan claims he hasn’t thought about it. Yet that didn’t stop him from making a prediction when being persuaded to do so by Greg Papa on KNBR Monday morning.
“Yeah he’ll play in the preseason definitely,” Shanahan began.
What week? Perhaps in the second game on August 19 vs. the Broncos? Sure, that sounds good.
“I haven’t sat through and thought about any of it — and of course I could say something and everyone will kill me if I have to take it back — he’s playing in Week 2, he’s playing in Week 3, he won’t play in Week 4,” Shanahan said with a smile. “Hopefully you guys will allow me to change my mind if I do, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t be that way and that’s how I see it for most of our guys.”
Garoppolo hasn’t played in an NFL game — exhibition or otherwise — since he sustained a torn ACL in Week 3 last season. Garoppolo has been fully cleared by 49ers team doctors for training camp which began on Saturday. Neither he, nor Shanahan have discussed exactly what his snap count will be once he does see action this preseason.
The 49ers first preseason game is August 10 at home vs. the Cowboys.