The San Francisco 49ers put Jimmy Garoppolo in a weird spot during the 2021 NFL Draft.
The team drafted Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick and immediately put Garoppolo on the hot seat.
The veteran has been the starter this year and the team is 8-7 and in the NFC playoff picture.
Yet there is a new problem.
That would be multiple thumb injuries on his throwing hand.
Lance is now in line to start and the NFL world is reacting to this late-season drama for the 49ers.
“I would expect Jimmy to miss the Week 17 contest against the Texans, and perhaps more time."@sportsdocmatt accesses Jimmy Garoppolo's thumb injuries and predicts how long he will be out. pic.twitter.com/RDsQeFr0mA
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 28, 2021
With Jimmy Garoppolo's thumb injury, could we be seeing a sudden shift to Trey Lance in San Francisco?@timkawakami says this could be a bit too perfectly timed: https://t.co/1jhH6bNFem pic.twitter.com/c67hh5RBcV
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 28, 2021
It's pretty clear at this point that Jimmy Garoppolo's people are giving medical info to the national "insiders." Jimmy's relationship with the team has clearly soured and things have finally run their course. So much for the whole "Jimmy has been such a pro" narrative, though.
— Rob “Stats” Guerrera (@StatsOnFire) December 28, 2021
Lance was drafted to be the quarterback of the future and may start that journey in Week 17.
A Changing Of The Guard
The 49ers obviously don’t have a ton of faith in Garoppolo.
If they did, Lance would not have been taken in the first place with such a high pick.
People still claiming that sitting Lance was all about Garoppolo’s value? Priority #1 is Lance, as soon as they drafted him. https://t.co/fBXFsSNfsZ
— 49ers Info (@49ersinfo) December 28, 2021
Trey Lance starting with 2 games left to clinch a playoff run is setting up for an EPIC transition into the new era for the #49ers would love to see this pan out in the most positive of ways!!!
— Suneil (@SoRealSuneil) December 28, 2021
Trey Lance finally might be QB1🥲🥲🥲
— I Rather Hang with Jada 415™ (@JVMES4152) December 28, 2021
One major reason Garoppolo stuck around was because of his contract.
He carried a dead cap value worth nearly $27 million this year.
That drops down to $1.4 million in 2022.
A change was already coming and this injury may just make the move permanent earlier than expected.
there is no peace when you have jimmy garoppolo as your qb
— Renly (@RenlyJenk) December 28, 2021
*Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance trending again* pic.twitter.com/ddC0pFlEAp
— Sourdeath Sam (@SourdeathSam) December 28, 2021
Jimmy Garoppolo may have played his last game with the 49ers. His trade value?
His floor: Nick Foles to CHI (4th)
His ceiling: Carson Wentz to INDY (3rd+ conditional 2nd->1st)
Trading team will extend him and lower his 2022 cap number, not an issue.
— 49ers Info (@49ersinfo) December 28, 2021
49ers fans saw Garoppolo nearly lead the team to Super Bowl glory.
But he has also struggled to stay healthy during his tenure and has not lived up to his massive contract.
Enter Lance, whose task now will be getting the 49ers into the playoffs.
So what will Garoppolo’s legacy be in San Francisco if this is indeed the end?
It will surely be a complicated one with fans split on how to remember the man who was one accurate throw away from winning a title.
Friendly reminder after yesterday’s news that Kyle Shanahan does not hate Jimmy Garoppolo and JG absolutely delivered when Kyle needed him to, against a playoff team. A bad game (half-played with injury) does not negate that Jimmy, while inconsistent, is a damn good QB. https://t.co/x67jt2dJjm
— George (@realflowfficial) December 28, 2021
Lance now has big shoes to fill for a franchise that has great expectations every single season.
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