© Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
The news of Jimmy Garoppolo tearing the ACL in his left knee, ending his 2018 season just three games in, is brutal for everyone involved. He showed that a quarterback upgrade elevates everyone else in his five starts, all of which were wins, last year. The expectations for a highly anticipated 2018 season hinged on Garoppolo’s performance, and more pertinently, his availability.
Even with him, the 49ers were still amid a rebuilding process — he just accelerated it.
Remember: this was never a one-year plan.
The silver linings from Garoppolo’s injury don’t make it any less painful. Kyle Shanahan admitted he had a tough time waking up Monday morning with the news of Garoppolo’s season-ending knee injury seared into his mind.
But the 49ers head coach also highlighted some positives that can be extracted from the current situation.
Timing of the injury
The sting of Garoppolo’s injury would have been worse if he had suffered it late in the season, similar to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz last year.
Wentz tore his ACL in Week 14 of the 2017 season. He did not return until Week 3 of this season. It took him more than nine months, which is standard, to return to the field without limitation.
According to that timetable, Garoppolo would return right after OTAs finish next year. He would be fully healthy by the start of training camp. It’s worth noting that Garoppolo did not sustain any additional ligament damage aside from the ACL tear, as far as Shanahan knows. Wentz also tore his LCL.
The Eagles didn’t rush Wentz back because they were thinking long-term. The same situation applies to Garoppolo, who signed a five-year contract in February.
But the 49ers quarterback won’t have to worry about when he will return during the 2019 season — he will be ready by Week 1.
Garoppolo’s “wingman”
This isn’t a visible benefit, but it’s important. Garoppolo will go through the recovery process with running back Jerick McKinnon, also one of San Francisco’s prized 2018 signings, who suffered the same injury three weeks ago. After San Francisco’s 38-27 loss at Kansas City Sunday, McKinnon texted Garoppolo a picture of his knee and said he looked forward to having a “wingman” throughout rehab.
Recovering from an ACL injury is physically and mentally taxing. You learn a lot about yourself. Richard Sherman said he “saw a side of myself that I never even knew I had” when he coped with his Achilles tear, which requires a slightly longer recovery than an ACL tear.
Sherman leaned on NBA legend Kobe Bryant throughout the process. Garoppolo won’t have to call anyone with advice or words of encouragement with McKinnon, his backfield partner, slogging through rehab with him.
“That’s the only good news that Jimmy and I could talk about on the plane,” Shanahan said Monday. “At least he’s got a buddy to go through it with. Unfortunately, both of them are going through it. But, they’re both in the same boat.”
More opportunity for C.J. Beathard
Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is a living testimony that having a quality backup is important. The Eagles didn’t miss a beat when Foles replaced Wentz during their recent Super Bowl championship run.
The jury is still out on C.J. Beathard, San Francisco’s 2017 third-round draft pick who backs up Garoppolo. Last year, Beathard was 1-4 as a starter, though his lone win gave the then-0-9 49ers their first of the season in Week 10. In seven appearances, Beathard threw for 1,430 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions on 54.9 percent passing.
Beathard has 13 potential opportunities in 2018 to prove himself. Everything Shanahan has recently said indicates Beathard is the starter moving forward, even if the 49ers acquire a veteran quarterback — they are working out several Tuesday — to pad the depth chart.
The thought of Garoppolo sustaining another serious injury in 2019 and beyond is unfathomable for 49ers fans, but in the case he does, having a more experienced Beathard would prove beneficial.
More opportunity for a young defense
Barring sudden improvement, their defense is likely what was holding the 49ers back from making the playoffs this season even with Garoppolo healthy.
Through three games, they have surrendered 29.7 points per game, the 27th-best mark in the NFL. They have allowed 284.7 yards per game, the 22nd-best mark in the NFL.
Last week, the Chiefs scored touchdowns on each of their five opening drives. Patrick Mahomes carved the 49ers for 252 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. There was little resistance from the defensive backfield, tackling issues, untimely penalties, and virtually no pass rush.
It usually takes multiple seasons for the best defenses to blossom. The 49ers deploy rookies and second-year players all over the field.
Cornerback Richard Sherman is expected to miss the next few weeks with a calf strain. Free safety Adrian Colbert is questionable for Week 4. Their potential absences mean rookies Tarvarius Moore and D.J. Reed, two players who have experienced position changes from college, will see more playing time. The only way they will improve is with game repetition.
With Garoppolo out, the defense will likely see the field even more this season. It may be painful to watch, but those extra snaps will only benefit the 49ers in 2019 and beyond.
Potential high draft pick
Maybe the 49ers will be better with Beathard than many expect. If they finish anywhere from 3-13 to 6-10, which seems reasonable, they will likely have another top-10 draft pick in 2019.
49ers fans are tired of looking forward to high draft picks. They have had a top-10 selection in each of the past four drafts. DeForest Buckner is the only one who has validated his pick, though rookie right tackle Mike McGlinchey has been impressive through his first three career games.
But there’s no denying the current roster is far from a finished product. It is improved from last year, but the 49ers lack game-changers, particularly on the defensive side.
The 2019 draft is expected to be loaded with dominant edge rushers, San Francisco’s most glaring weakness. Buckner’s 3.5 sacks are the fifth-most in the league, but he has operated almost exclusively from the interior. Complementing him with a speedy edge player would have a huge trickle-down effect across the defense.
Of course, the 49ers brass has to make the right pick. John Lynch has had three first-round selections throughout his short tenure as 49ers general manager, hitting on two of them: Reuben Foster and McGlinchey. Solomon Thomas has not dominated like you would expect from the No. 3 pick in the draft.
There aren’t many dominant pass rushers in today’s NFL who fall out of the top-10. If the 49ers have access to one as a result of their struggles in 2018, it could greatly impact the team for years to come.
