Shanahan: Garoppolo has 'outside chance' of late postseason return

Don't rule Jimmy Garoppolo out for the season just yet.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Wednesday that the San Francisco 49ers quarterback doesn't have ligament damage in his foot, giving him a slim chance of returning in the postseason.

"Still going to be a big recovery," Shanahan said, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. "There's that way outside chance (of a return) late in the playoffs, but just an outside chance. Not real optimistic about it, but never rule it out."

Doctors concluded Tuesday that Garoppolo doesn't need foot surgery after suffering an injury in Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Garoppolo broke his foot against the Dolphins, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said the signal-caller was expected to undergo season-ending surgery. However, the veteran passer now has a chance to return in seven-to-eight weeks, according to Schefter.

The wild-card round of the postseason takes place Jan. 14-16. The 49ers lead the NFC West with an 8-4 record, good for the No. 3 seed in the NFC at the moment. The 7-5 Seattle Seahawks rank second in the division.

Garoppolo completed 67.2% of his passes for 2,437 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions through 11 appearances this season. He began the campaign as the team's No. 2 quarterback behind Trey Lance, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2.

Injuries have been an issue for the 31-year-old Garoppolo, who missed most of 2018 after tearing his ACL and suffered a season-ending ankle injury midway through the 2020 season.

Rookie Brock Purdy - who was selected with the final pick in the 2022 draft - is in line to start at quarterback for the 49ers. San Francisco recently signed veteran Josh Johnson to serve as his backup.

The 49ers were also linked to quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was claimed by the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday after being released by the Carolina Panthers. San Francisco didn't put in a waiver claim for Mayfield, a source told Schefter.