SANTA CLARA — The return of Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers was a story that reverberated through national and local media as well as the league’s own platform.
It picked up steam on social media, inviting analysis and over-analysis, and has begun to settle down until such a time when starter Trey Lance struggles or is injured, with Jimmy G ditching his clipboard and springing into action.
Rest assured the first time Lance throws a wobbler or takes a big hit, the network cameras will pan the sideline for a Garoppolo reaction.
One place where it doesn’t seem like such a big deal is the 49ers’ locker room, which was open to reporters Monday for the first time since Garoppolo was back in the fold and it was if he’d never left. Garoppolo didn’t venture into the locker room during media availability, while Lance, who talks on Wednesday, shot hoops with some teammates as reporters dodged the occasional missed shot while talking with players.
In some ways, Garoppolo never did leave. He was on site if not in meeting rooms, rehabbing his surgically repaired right shoulder and waiting for a trade proposal that never came.
“We’ve seen him every day,” safety Talanoa Hufanga said. “Nothing’s changed. He’s been a hell of a person throughout this process. He and Trey, they’ve been the glue for our locker room. They continue to work each and every day. You get 53 guys that are doing that, you can win anything.”
Left tackle Trent Williams echoed those sentiments.
“We’re happy, man,” Williams said. “That’s our brother. That’s a guy we spent a couple of years with, love him to death, a very good dude. Having him on our team definitely helps.”
Williams, although happy to keep Garoppolo around, expected another team to see the value despite the shoulder issue.
“I was surprised no one made him their guy,” Williams said. “That surprised me more than anything. But knowing what he was looking at and choosing to come back here, that was probably the go-to answer I assumed he would do under those circumstances. But I expected him to be somewhere as the starting quarterback.”
According to wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tackle Mike McGlinchey, coach Kyle Shanahan laid the groundwork for Garoppolo’s return when it was apparent it would happen.
“Kyle does a good job of communicating with the players, so we kind of knew. It didn’t catch anybody by surprise,” Samuel said. “We were all on board. That’s what it’s going to be.”
McGlinchey said the move isn’t just good for the 49ers, but it’s good for Garoppolo as well.
“They feel it’s been the best thing for our team and on top of it, I think Jimmy feels it’s the best thing for him,” McGlinchey said. “It’s a win-win for us. It helps Trey. The relationship the two of them have, it’s great, they’ve been friends since Trey’s been in the building.”
McGlinchey remembered what happened in 2018 when Garoppolo tore an ACL in the third game of the season and the 49ers end up 4-12 splitting time with C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullen at quarterback.
“It’s another insurance policy for us too. We’ve been around this building where we’ve lost the starting quarterback for a full season or for a couple games, and how that can really change the face of a season,” McGlinchey said.
Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ rookie who made the 53-man roster, had little more than a few meet and greets with Garoppolo at his locker but now gets to get into meatier football issues regarding strategy and Xs and Os.
“I got to talk to him a couple of times, but to have him in the room and talk ball with him and learn from his experiences and hear him out on different things, it’s been awesome for me,” Purdy said. “He’s obviously been an excellent quarterback in this league and I want to learn as much as I can from him.”
PURDY’S EDGE? EXPERIENCE
Purdy, named Mr. Irrelevant after being the final pick (No. 262) in the seventh round of the draft, beat out Nate Sudfeld for a roster spot in large part because he looked and acted as if he belonged.
Sudfeld was quickly signed by the Detroit Lions, where he’ll back up Jared Goff.
Shanahan made references to Purdy’s experience level at Iowa State, where he played 48 games in four seasons.
“People are going to make a big deal out of it, going to an NFL team,” Purdy said. “Obviously the game’s faster and there are more intellectual things you’ve got to be on top of, but right when I got out there and I’m looking over the defense and thinking, `I’ve been here before.’ I played so many snaps in college. The jerseys changed and that was it. My experience helped out a lot.
— The 49ers take Tuesday as a mandatory day off before beginning serious preparations to face the Bears in Week 1.
Source: www.mercurynews.com