SANTA CLARA -- After making just 10 starts in his first five NFL seasons, this is a crucial year for Jimmy Garoppolo to prove the 49ers made the right decision.
Acquired in a midseason trade with the New England Patriots in 2017, Garoppolo showed enough on the final five games of that season to land a lucrative five-year contract as the team’s franchise quarterback.
But there are still plenty of unknowns about Garoppolo. He sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, so there are many unanswered questions about his ability to lead a team over the course of a 16-game season.
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Garoppolo's next chance begins Sunday, when the 49ers open the regular season at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I know Jimmy can play,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday. “I can’t tell you exactly how he’s going to play every single play or every single game, but I know Jimmy’s going to have some ups and downs.
“Jimmy is working his way back. He’s ready to go. He’s as far along as he can be. I know he’s confident and excited for the season. We need Sunday to come, not just for him but for all of us. We’ve all been itching for this game since the season ended last year and when you’re coming back from an injury I think that’s even heightened for those type of players.”
While Garoppolo’s physical condition has not been in question since the offseason, it was clear he had one major mental barrier to clear. Garoppolo struggled in his preseason debut against the Denver Broncos, looking uncomfortable and indecisive. But five days later, he looked good in the 49ers’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
San Francisco 49ers
“There are mental hurdles, physical hurdles that both of them you’re trying to balance them and at the same time not think about them too much because you’re dealing with training camp and everything,” Garoppolo said.
In fact, Garoppolo said he probably did not even realize what was going on in his head until he already cleared the hurdle -- performing well on the same field on which he sustained the torn ACL in his right knee approximately 11 months earlier.
“You kind of realize it after it’s happened,” Garoppolo said. “Going back to K.C. When I left there, it felt pretty good. Those things kind of happen on their own.”
Garoppolo certainly will not be able to do everything on his own this season, beginning against a young Buccaneers defense.
Tight end George Kittle remains as the team’s top offensive weapon. After Kittle, Garoppolo will likely be asked to spread the ball around to running backs Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida, as well as their balanced group of wide receivers.
Shanahan could not offer many details on how the wide receivers will be utilized, other than to say every wideout who suits up for games will have a role on game days.
“That’s going to be interesting as we go through each game,” Shanahan said. “A lot will do with how they practice in these three practices. What routes we have on. What personnel we up. A lot goes into blocking and running routes the right way.”
Garoppolo still has a lot to learn about the group of wide receivers, including second-year player Dante Pettis and rookie Deebo Samuel.
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“We got a good group of them -- each kind of unique in their own way and put them in the right spots to be successful,” Garoppolo said.
“The trust process never ends, especially with a quarterback and whoever the skill position is, tight end or receiver. Once you do trust those guys and know what routes they like, which routes they’re really good at, you start favoring those.”