San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. (Syndication: The Indianapolis Star)
Calls for Jimmy Garoppolo to be benched got even louder on Twitter after the San Francisco 49ers lost an ugly game to the Indianapolis Colts.
Jimmy Garoppolo had a chance to strengthen his hold on San Francisco’s quarterback job on Sunday against the Colts.
Rookie Trey Lance was inactive with an injury and Jimmy G was back healthy after missing the last game with a calf problem.
Garoppolo indeed made a statement. It was just the wrong one if he wants to keep his place at the top of the 49ers depth chart.
In a torrential downpour, Garoppolo was outplayed by Carson Wentz on a night when the Colts quarterback wasn’t even that good. He threw two interceptions and fumbled twice, losing one of those. The 49ers fell at home, 30-18.
49ers fans really want the Jimmy Garoppolo experience to end
The game wasn’t even over before fans and media started looking ahead to San Francisco’s future without Garoppolo in the picture.
Garoppolo’s fate was essentially sealed the moment the 49ers used the No. 3 pick in the draft to select Lance. He’s clearly the future of the franchise, for better or worse. Garoppolo is just warming his throne.
A lot of fans wish he was warming the bench instead.
The one person not on board with that plan seems to be Kyle Shanahan. The head coach said after the game he still expects Garoppolo to be the start come next week.
“I would guess so. Will watch tape and see if guys are healthy,” Shanahan said per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.
It may all depend on Lance’s availability. If Lance is back healthy from his knee sprain and Shanahan still goes with Garoppolo, you can bet there will be a wave of criticism headed his way to rival the rain from Sunday.