Niners Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo Out For Season With ACL Tear

MRI reports came back positive for Jimmy Garoppolo, who suffered a torn ACL. His season is over; the first full season of the Garoppolo era in San Francisco has come to an end after three weeks.

Jimmy Garoppolo Suffers Knee Injury

Crawling back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs, Garoppolo hastily rolled out to the left with a scramble towards the sideline. Avoiding defensive end Justin Houston, he gained 13 yards in the comeback attempt. As he became surrounded, he made the decision to cut back inside, awkwardly, instead of stepping out of bounds. He collapsed and began clutching his knee, prompting fear for what was a hopeful season.

Houston expressed grief for the young passer, although mentioning that it could have been avoided. “That was, I think, that was his fault,” Houston said. “I pray he’s not hurt and it’s nothing serious, but as a quarterback, you should step out of bounds. It’s only an inch. An inch [gained] wouldn’t have made a difference. You got the yardage you need, you step out of bounds. You’ve got to be smart, think about your team.”

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With the game clock winding down, the sense of urgency was heightened on the red zone drive. Leading the team down the field, Garoppolo was efficient and productive before his injury; he was 20-of-30 for 251 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions with a passer rating of 114.7.

Going forward, the Niners have decided to start Quarterback C.J. Beathard. Although competent in his few starts last season, the allure of an energizing and visibly talented quarterback in Garoppolo is undeniable. He was responsible for the essence of a winning culture, revitalizing the storied franchise of the Niners for the few short games at the end of the 2017 season. He was the bridge between an established past and a respectable present, a bridge that will have to wait at least another season to be crossed.