News broke Tuesday afternoon that will almost certainly play a role in the 49ers' inevitable trade of Jimmy Garoppolo. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that there is significant interest in Garoppolo from other teams, despite the veteran quarterback needing shoulder surgery this offseason. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport later reported that following surgery, Garoppolo will not be able to throw for 16 weeks, which estimates to be sometime in late June. 

Garoppolo sustained the shoulder injury in the NFC Wild Card Game against the Dallas Cowboys, eventually gutting it out and playing in both the 49ers' next two playoff games. General manager John Lynch admitted Wednesday morning that initially neither the team nor Garoppolo anticipated him needing surgery. 

Lynch spoke to media the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he discussed the interest other teams have in trading for Garoppolo and what went into the decision to undergo surgery at this time. 

"Jimmy's a part of us right now," Lynch told reporters. "A lot of people need or want quarterbacks right now, and he's obviously a guy they'd look at. Yes, we have listened, but he's a part of us."

"It was one of those injuries where the recommendation from multiple doctors was let's try rehab first and see if the pain and some of the other symptoms went away," Lynch said. "And that was the hope obviously, but that wasn't the case as time went on, and I think in the last couple days had another visit where the decision was made to go ahead and have that surgery. Any time you have surgery it's not a minor deal. Any time it's the throwing shoulder, I understand the significance. But it is described as a minor surgery, and Jimmy's going to be fine."

Lynch expressed concern over the injury from both a team and personal standpoint, but reiterated that the veteran signal-caller is still a member of the organization and the 49ers will continue to have conversations with other teams. 

"He's a big part of what we've done, and like I said, he's still a part of us," Lynch added. "And until that changes, we feel blessed that he is. Right now, when we're talking about his shoulder, I'm worried about that for the Niners and for Jimmy. As far as anything else, like I said, we have had some discussions with some teams and we'll continue to. But as of right now, he's a part of us."

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It remains to be seen what the 49ers will be able to fetch in a Garoppolo trade, and the price might have just lowered given the lengthy recovery that lies ahead for the 30-year-old. 

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