Four-time Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk cannot say for sure how much differently Jimmy Garoppolo feels. But he knows the 49ers’ quarterback looks different from a year ago.
Last summer, Garoppolo was returning to the field after missing the final 13 games of the 2018 season due to a torn left ACL.
Garoppolo overcame all the mental hurdles to start 19 games and be one of the key figures in leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Juszczyk was asked on Tuesday if Garoppolo appears more comfortable as training camp gets going.
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In his first season as a full-time NFL starter -- and coming off major knee surgery -- Garoppolo had one of the top seasons in 49ers history. He completed 69.1 percent of his pass attempts for 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in the regular season.
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Juszczyk believes the fact Garoppolo is another year removed from the ACL injury will provide a major benefit to the 49ers' offense.
“When you don’t have to think about something, when something is not in the back of your mind, and it’s not weighing on you, it relieves so much stress, so much pressure, and you’re able to play so much more freely,” Juszczyk said.
“So if he’s not thinking about that knee and it’s not even in his head, that’s going to be a huge advantage for him and something that I know, just as an athlete, would make me play better. And I think you’re going to see it from him.
"When you don’t have to think about that stuff, you can just go and turn it loose.”
