Shanahan: Garoppolo has 'real good chance' to participate in 49ers' OTAs
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't played since suffering a knee injury in Week 3, but he could be on track to start preparing for the 2019 season by spring.
Garoppolo has a "real good chance" to do some stuff in organized team activities (OTAs) in May and June, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.
The 27-year-old Garoppolo suffered a torn ACL in the 49ers' Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He had completed 53 of 89 passes for 718 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions while leading his team to a 1-2 start.
The 49ers acquired Garoppolo in a trade with the New England Patriots last season. He took over as the starter in Week 13 and led his new team to five consecutive wins to end the 2017 campaign. The success earned him a then-record five-year, $137.5-million contract extension in early February - the annual average value has since been passed by Kirk Cousins, Matt Ryan, and Aaron Rodgers.
Garoppolo was replaced under center first by C.J. Beathard and then Nick Mullens. The 23-year-old Mullens leads the three with 1,754 yards, a 64.5 completion percentage, and 10 touchdowns over six games.
The undrafted free agent owns a 3-3 record as a starter this season, most recently toppling the Seattle Seahawks in overtime in Week 15.