SANTA CLARA — Jimmy Garoppolo has a “way outside chance late in the playoffs, but that’s an outside chance” of returning to the 49ers this season, coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday.
That prospect is not at the forefront of players’ minds, however.
“You have to block that out,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said of Garoppolo’s comeback bid. “There are five weeks until the playoffs, so you have to get there first.”
That’s why Wednesday’s chatter revolved around hyping up the two quarterbacks who will start Sunday at Levi’s Stadium: rookie Brock Purdy for the 49ers (8-4) and seven-time Super Bowl-winner Tom Brady for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6).
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has a unique perspective of both quarterbacks On the one hand, he and the No. 1-ranked defense must oppose Brady. On the other, Greenlaw not only has practiced against Purdy for 14 weeks but their lockers are next to each other in a typically quiet corner of the vast room.
On Brady, Greenlaw said: “When you’re that consistent that long, you’re showing you’re the best. He has it. But he’s going to have to come prove it one more week.”
On Purdy, Greenlaw added: “He’s special, the way he knows how to read a defense, but manipulate a defense, as well. To see him grow from that, it’s going to be fun to watch. He’s only going to get better with more reps and time. As a defense, we’ve got to make sure we have his back.”
Purdy will have to do his part, too, just as he did Sunday once Garoppolo broke his left foot in the 49ers’ opening drive of a 33-17 win over Miami.
#49ers QB1b Brock Purdy in shorts (58 degrees here in Cali) showing off his Bosa-light quads and also a bandage on right kneehttps://t.co/2VJkMr5pg3 pic.twitter.com/fmzw1yl9v8
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) December 7, 2022
Purdy’s weekly preparation had him ready for that opportunity, to Shanahan’s delight as he considered the life of a backup quarterback.
“I couldn’t imagine all week studying for a test and not being allowed to take the test,” Shanahan said. “… Brock was ready for it and handled it, and that’s what he has to do this week too.”
Purdy, who’s slated to speak with reporters Thursday, will prepare all week to face a Bucs defense that figures to frequently blitz or throw everything at a quarterback who spent the past four seasons at Iowa State before being selected with the 262nd and final draft pick.
Playsheets sat at the base of Purdy’s locker Wednesday, a sign he’s doing the requisite prep work.
“He doesn’t say much,” Greenlaw said of his neighbor. “Sometimes I come to my locker and I forget he’s sitting right there. Then it’s, ‘Oh, what’s up Purdy?’ after 20 minutes of him sitting beside me.”
Purdy, 22, is not drowning in the X’s and O’s. He took a break Tuesday night to participate in the 49ers’ toy giveaway in the Levi’s Stadium parking lot for families in need.
“He’s not going to press. He’s not going to think the moment is too big for him,” McGlinchey added. “He’s had a lot of experience playing in college, and he’s going to have a lot of experience playing here over the next couple of weeks.”
Brady, 45, will be making his 375th career start, including his 47 playoff appearances.
“The greatest to ever do it. He has the seven rings but you really watch him and it’s unlike anybody who’s ever played it,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “He’s so exact where he’s going with the ball. You wonder, how do you stop it. It’s going to take some extra film study and taking a good look at him.”
Warner’s most memorable moment watching Brady: the 2016 season’s Super Bowl, in which Brady led the New England Patriots back from a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons, whose offensive coordinator was Shanahan.
“Tom plays the position better than anyone ever. The ball always goes to the right spot,” Shanahan said. “… He just has a command of the game and knows what it takes to win.”
While Shanahan commended Brady for “flawless technique” and an arm that appears stronger than ever, Purdy offers an element of the unknown. “We try not to make drastic changes. They’ve got similar skill sets,” Shanahan said of Purdy and Garoppolo. “He hasn’t played a ton of football so there’s unknown. We like that he has the ability and talent to do it. He’s been ready at every opportunity he’s gotten.”
GAROPPOLO FALLOUT
“We’re not real optimistic, but we’re not ruling it out,” Shanahan said of a Garoppolo comeback, noting that a seven-to-eight week timeline is simply for his fracture to heal (without surgery) rather than to be football-ready.
Garoppolo’s fracture is not the more serious Lisfranc version, nor did he sustain any ligament damage, but he still faces a “big recovery,” Shanahan said.
“I know he wanted the opportunity to take us to new heights and all thate, especially this week as we’re playing against his former roommate in Tom. It’s hitting him pretty heavy,” McGlinchey said. “But he’s still Jimmy coming in with a smile on his feet and he hasn’t missed a team meeting since the injury. No matter what happens, he’s still one of the coolest guy I’ve been around.”
Aside from a potential playoff return, Garoppolo’s simpler fracture means his offseason activity won’t be as derailed as this past spring following his shoulder surgery, which scuttled his trade market and kept him with the 49ers, which obviously came in handy once Trey Lance sustained a season-ending ankle fracture in Week 2.
“I’m happy for Jim. That’ a huge difference in terms of rehab and revovery time,” Warner said. “My little brother, he went through a Lisfranc and it takes a long time to recover from. The fact that he doesn’t have to go through that is big time. … No rush for him. I’m happy for him, and if he comes back, he comes back.”
HEALTH UPDATES
Defensive end Nick Bosa’s hamstring irritation kept him out of Wednesday’s practice. Earlier in the day, Bosa earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, having had three sacks and forcing a fumble on the last one to highlight the 49ers’ win over the Dolphins.
Others out of practice were Garoppolo, defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway (pectoral), safety Tarvarius Moore (knee) and left tackle Trent Williams (rest).
Limited were running back Christian McCaffrey (knee), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (quadriceps), defensive tackle Arik Armstead (ankle, foot) and guard Spencer Burford (ankle).
Missing the Bucs’ practice were right tackle Tristan Wirfs (ankle/knee) and safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle) and Mike Edwards (hamstring). Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (quadriceps) and nose tackle Vita Vea (foot/shoulder) were limited.
PRO BOWL UPDATE
Still leading in Pro Bowl voting are Nick Bosa, left tackle Trent Williams and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Others in the top-10 rankings: long snapper Taybor Pepper (second), return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud (third), running back Christian McCaffrey (fourth), tight end George Kittle (fourth), safety Talanoa Hufanga (sixth), linebacker Fred Warner (seventh), punter Mitch Wishnowsky (seventh), guard Aaron Banks (eighth)), special teamer Demetrius Flannigan-Fowels (eighth), cornerback Charvarius Ward (ninth) and Samuel (10th).
Source: www.mercurynews.com