Dec 4, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Jimmy Garoppolo won’t need surgery, could return in 7-8 weeks

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will not require surgery on his broken left foot after all, ESPN reported, making the veteran a possibility to return for the playoffs.

Because Garoppolo’s injury was not a Lisfranc fracture, doctors reportedly determined that he was able to avoid surgery and follow a course of rehab to return in seven to eight weeks.

That timetable would allow for Garoppolo to get back on the field in late January and a portion of the NFL playoffs. The divisional playoffs are scheduled for Jan. 21-22 and conference championships are Jan. 29. Super Bowl LVII will be played Feb. 12 in Glendale, Ariz., 10 weeks after Garoppolo was injured.

In the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the visiting Miami Dolphins, Garoppolo was sacked by a pair of Miami defensive players. The knee of Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips appeared to land on the side of Garoppolo’s left foot.

Garoppolo was carted from the sideline to the locker room. After the game, coach Kyle Shanahan said the diagnosis was a broken foot that would require season-ending surgery.

“Just hearing it is pretty crushing,” coach Kyle Shanahan said at the time. “We know what Jimmy’s been through, how hard he’s worked at this.”

For now, the Niners are turning to rookie seventh-round selection Brock Purdy, who entered for Garoppolo and led San Francisco to a 33-17 win over Miami. It was Purdy’s first extended NFL action.

Trey Lance was lost for the season to an ankle injury in the second game of the season. Shanahan ruled out the possibility of Lance being activated sooner than expected.

Baker Mayfield was seen as a short-term option for the 49ers after the Carolina Panthers waived him on Monday, but the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams claimed Mayfield on Tuesday to address their own quarterback concerns. ESPN reported that the Niners did not put in a waiver claim for Mayfield.

–Field Level Media

September 18, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) is carted off the field after an injury against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers QB Trey Lance (ankle) carted off, ruled out vs. Seahawks

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance was carted off the field with an air cast on his lower right leg late in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the visiting Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif.

Lance’s leg appeared to buckle under him after a short gain on a rushing play. He was quickly ruled out for the game with an ankle injury.

Jimmy Garoppolo entered the game in relief of Lance and started 4-for-4 for 70 yards, capped off by a 38-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ross Dwelley that gave the 49ers a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter.

San Francisco kept Garoppolo on a reworked deal for 2022 after it was unable to find a trade partner for the veteran.

–Field Level Media

Jan 22, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) in action against the Green Bay Packers during a NFC Divisional playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Garoppolo expects 49ers to trade him, hopes for ‘right destination’

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo hinted Tuesday that his days with the San Francisco 49ers were numbered.

The oft-maligned signal-caller who helped the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV and this year’s NFC Championship Game appeared to say goodbye to San Francisco fans and openly discussed his future in the league in a team conference call.

“I was talking to (general manager) John (Lynch) yesterday about finding the right destination and whatever the future holds, just doing it the right way,” Garoppolo said. “I’ve got a long career ahead of me. I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the opportunities to come.

“I just want to go to a place where they want to win. That’s really what I’m in this game for. I’m here to play football, win football games and as long as I’ve got that and good people around me, I think the rest will take care of itself.”

Garoppolo ended the Zoom call by looking straight into the camera and addressing fans of the team.

“It’s been a hell of a ride,” Garoppolo said. “I love you guys. See ya.”

Garoppolo, 30, could figure into a giant offseason quarterback carousel, driven by the retirements of Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger and the unsettled situations with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and Russell Wilson in Seattle.

The 49ers selected quarterback Trey Lance with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and would be able to move forward with Lance under center if they moved Garoppolo.

A second-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2014 while Brady was still in his prime, Garoppolo only made two starts for the Patriots before he was traded to San Francisco at the deadline in 2017. He took over the 49ers’ starting job late that season and notably won all five of his starts.

In 2019, his 49ers were the No. 1 seed in the NFC and fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Niners were one quarter away from making their second Super Bowl with Garoppolo last week, but the Los Angeles Rams came back from a 17-7 fourth quarter deficit to win 20-17 — aided in part by a late-game Garoppolo interception.

In parts of eight seasons, Garoppolo has played 63 games (47 starts) and thrown for 11,852 yards, 71 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He owns a career completion rate of 67.7 percent. In 2021, the 49ers went 9-6 in Garoppolo’s 15 starts, and he led the NFL with 12.7 yards per completion. He threw for 3,810 yards and 20 touchdowns, but also tossed 12 picks, one off his career high.

Garoppolo has only played a full season once in those eight years due to multiple bouts with injuries.

He has one year remaining on a five-year, $137.5 million contract. His cap hit in 2022 is due to be just north of $26.9 million, according to the salary cap-tracking website Spotrac.

–Field Level Media