Jimmy G's ankle sprain not severe; chance to play Week 3

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Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a high ankle sprain, but it appears to be more on the less-severe side, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday.

Shanahan said the 49ers are keeping the door open for Garoppolo to play in Week 3 against the New York Giants -- as unlikely as it might seem at this point in the week.

"He still has a chance because the severity is not real bad, but it is a high ankle," Shanahan said.

Garoppolo sustained the injury just four minutes into the 49ers' 31-13 victory Sunday over the New York Jets when he went to the artificial surface at MetLife Stadium awkwardly upon being sacked by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

Shanahan said he believed Williams' low hit should have drawn a penalty. And another penalty should have been called for a late hit while Garoppolo was on the ground.

"He hurt it, and adrenaline and stuff, you don’t take him in for an X-ray with how he’s talking and stuff," Shanahan said during a video call with Bay Area reporters on Monday. "So you feel OK with it, but as the game gets going, you can tell how he’s moving and we’re communicating with him a lot, we knew it was hurting him, so we tried to get him in for some X-rays at halftime and do all that stuff.

"We knew it was getting worse, not better. And when it’s getting worse, not better, that’s not a good sign. So we were going to shut him down regardless at halftime."

Garoppolo, playing in obvious pain, still managed to complete 14 of 16 pass attempts for 131 yards with two touchdown passes to tight end Jordan Reed. His passer rating for the game was 140.4. He did not return in the second half, as the 49ers built a 21-3 lead.

The 49ers traveled after the game to White Sulphur Springs, West Va., where they will stay and practice this week at The Greenbrier resort. The team will go back to MetLife Stadium for their Week 3 game against the New York Giants.

RELATED: Nick Mullens confident he can lead 49ers with Jimmy Garoppolo injured

Nick Mullens is set to take over for Garoppolo for as long as he is out of action. C.J. Beathard, who has not suited up for a game since the 2018 season, will serve as the backup. Mullens replaced Beathard in the middle of the 2018 season after Garoppolo sustained a torn ACL in the third game.

Mullens excelled in eight starts to close out that season. Then, Mullens beat out Beathard to earn the backup role in 2019. The 49ers have kept Garoppolo, Mullens and Beathard on their 53-man roster from the beginning of last season. Mullens and Beathard are not signed beyond this season.

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