The 49ers have been demolished by injuries in 2020, and not one player has tried to fight through it harder than quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Originally injured in a Week 2 matchup vs. the Jets, Garoppolo missed a few games before returning to the field and not quite looking right in Week 5. The injury (and general ineffectiveness) led to a benching in that Week 5 matchup vs. the Dolphins, too.
While Garoppolo continued to play through the injury, a nearly identical injury occurring in Week 8 vs. the Seahawks has sidelined Garoppolo indefinitely.
But according to San Francisco head coach, this high ankle sprain is an entirely new deal for Garoppolo, and has nothing to do with the original injury. That’s both good news and bad news for Garoppolo’s timetable to return to the gridiron.
MORE: Will the 49ers move on from Jimmy Garoppolo?
How long is Jimmy Garoppolo out?
After his most recent ankle injury suffered in Week 8, Garoppolo is sidelined indefinitely with a high ankle sprain, per the team. Garoppolo was placed on Injured Reserve on Nov. 3, meaning he will miss at minimum three weeks.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Garoppolo is expected the shelf for at least six weeks, which could put him back on the field in the latter stages of the NFL season. ESPN also reported on Tuesday that Garoppolo is currently “gathering multiple medical opinions” to see if surgery is his best course of action. Should Garoppolo need surgery, he will be out for the season.
Jimmy Garoppolo injury timeline
Week 2 vs. Jets: On a dropback, Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams swipes at Garoppolo’s ankle, who gets up limping. Garoppolo would exit the game with an ankle injury.
Week 5 vs. Dolphins: After a few week absence, Garoppolo returns vs. the Dolphins, but has a performance to forget. Clearly still hobbled by the ankle injury, Garoppolo throws just 7 for 17 passes for 77 yards and two interceptions in the effort.
Week 8 vs. Seahawks: Garoppolo again suffers an ankle injury vs. the Seahawks after being sacked in the third quarter. He would not come out for the fourth quarter, with the reigns being handed to Nick Mullens once again.
Nov. 3: ESPN reports that Garoppolo is weighing options for a potential surgery on his ankle, which would sideline him for the remainder of the season. San Francisco head coach says that Garoppolo’s injury is “essentially a whole new one, just on the same foot” and that it’s worse than the initial injury suffered vs. the Jets.
title: “How Long Is Jimmy Garoppolo Out Injury Timeline Return Date Latest Updates On 49Ers Quarterback” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-10” author: “Diana Puff”
Jimmy Garoppolo remains out with a high-ankle sprain as the 49ers host the Philadelphia Eagles at 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday. Nick Mullens will again get the starting nod while Jimmy G tries to recover from the right-ankle injury he sustained in Week 2 at MetLife Stadium against the Jets.
MORE: Why NFL players keep getting injured against Jets, Giants
In the six quarters Garoppolo has played this season, he’s completed 33-of-49 passes for 390 yards and four touchdowns. Mullens has completed 33-of-47 passes for 414 yards and a touchdown with an interception in his six quarters of action.
Here’s what you need to know about Garoppolo’s injury and when he might return for the 49ers:
How long will Jimmy Garoppolo be out?
Garoppolo exited San Francisco’s Week 2 game at the New York Jets with a high-ankle sprain to his right ankle at halftime. The sprain itself happened early in the first half, and Garoppolo played through it until halftime.
Since the injury, Garoppolo hasn’t practiced. He missed Week 3 back at MetLife Stadium against the Giants and will miss Week 4 against the Eagles.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan initially termed Garoppolo’s injury “week-to-week.” Missing Week 4 marks Garoppolo’s second week out of action. The 49ers host the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, giving Garoppolo another seven days to try to return to the field.
David Lombardi, The Athletic’s 49ers beat writer, tweeted Sunday that he “can’t think of a better warmup/ramp-up game” for Garoppolo than playing in Week 5 against the Dolphins.
What is Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury?
Garoppolo his a high-ankle sprain to his right ankle. A high-ankle sprain differs from a common ankle sprain due to the ligaments that are injured in the sprain. The ligaments sprained in a high-ankle sprain are located above the ankle and are known as the syndesmosis.
After Week 2, Shanahan said of Garoppolo’s ankle that “We knew it was getting worse but not better.” That’s why he was removed and hasn’t made it back yet.
The standard treatment for high-ankle sprains includes rest, ice, compression and elevation, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery. Garoppolo’s return will simply depend on natural healing of the ankle, along with how confident he may feel playing in an ankle brace.
Jimmy Garoppolo injury timeline
Oct. 2 - Garoppolo is ruled out for Sunday Night Football against the Eagles.
Sept. 27 - Garoppolo is inactive for Week 3 against the Giants. Nick Mullens starts.
Sept. 20 - Garoppolo sprains his right ankle in the first quarter against the Jets. He doesn’t return after halftime. Kyle Shanahan calls the sprain “week-to-week” after the game as Adam Schefter reports it’s a high-ankle sprain.
Jimmy Garoppolo injury updates
Oct. 4 - 49ers beat writer for The Athletic, David Lombardi, speculates Garoppolo could have a perfect warmup game in Week 5 against the Dolphins.
Sept. 20 - Kyle Shanahan calls Garoppolo “week-to-week.”
