On Monday night, when the San Francisco 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams, Jimmy Garoppolo will make his second start of the year.
In Week 2, Garoppolo replaced an injured Trey Lance as San Francisco’s starter. If he can stay healthy, he will start the rest of the season. Following a victory against the Seattle Seahawks, the Super Bowl signal caller’s 49ers suffered a devastating 11-10 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 3.
San Francisco, which is currently 1-2 on the year, will play in front of a nationally broadcast audience at Levi’s Stadium in what is essentially a must-win situation.
According to Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the 49ers, “I feel like a win’s vital.” I would really like to win, and after that, we’ll see how we perform the next week.
It is impossible to emphasize the gap between a 2-2 record and a 1-3 record after four weeks. If San Francisco prevailed, it would tie the other three NFC West clubs for first place. The defending NFC runners-up would finish last if they lost.
This is an opportunity for Garoppolo in particular to show the league as a whole that he has what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Garoppolo, who will turn 31 in November, appeared to have left the 49ers before having shoulder surgery in the off-season. Said surgrey put a stop to trade negotiations, which led to his return to the 49ers on a restructured contract as a backup for Lance.
Things changed for Garoppolo after Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. He has incentives that might alter the quarterback’s direction, both financially and professionally. Against the Rams on Monday night, that will continue.
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