Jimmy Garoppolo gets in for a minute, throws first 49ers touchdown
The San Francisco 49ers are going to have a hard time keeping Jimmy Garoppolo out now.
It was only a little more than a minute for Garoppolo, but in a lost season the new 49ers quarterback finally was able to give the fans a highlight. They’ll want more, too.
Garoppolo, who the 49ers have strangely kept on the bench after a blockbuster trade with the New England Patriots, finally got in. It wasn’t voluntary by coach Kyle Shanahan. Late in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, starter C.J. Beathard was injured as he was brought down. Garoppolo came in. Instead of running out the clock, the 49ers gave Garoppolo a minute to make something happen. And he did.
On the final play of the game, Garoppolo rolled to his left and made a great throw to Louis Murphy for a 10-yard touchdown. Garoppolo’s line: 2-of-2, 19 yards, one touchdown. He should retire now and keep that perfect 49ers record intact. Garoppolo’s touchdown pass was the only offensive touchdown the 49ers scored Sunday.
Unless there’s some secret reason the 49ers haven’t wanted to play Garoppolo (perhaps another trade in the offseason), you’d assume this will be the time to get him in the lineup. Not that Garoppolo showed in two throws that he has mastered the offense, but the 49ers should want to get him some experience in the offense before the end of the season. Beathard isn’t going to be the starter of the future. Garoppolo could be.
The most exciting minute of the 49ers’ awful loss was that final minute with Garoppolo. If he plays the rest of the season, at least San Francisco will be worth watching.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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