49ers vs. Broncos: What to expect from Jimmy Garoppolo

NFL preseason games usually have little importance, but the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 2 game against the Denver Broncos marks Jimmy Garoppolo’s return to game action. Here’s what to look for.

The San Francisco 49ers are on pace for a perfect season and over 10,000 penalty yards. At least, that’s what extending their preseason win versus the Dallas Cowboys last week over the course of a full season shows.

The point I’m making is that preseason results don’t mean anything. The games are glorified practices. However, there is something to be said for getting under the lights of an NFL game and feeling the pressure of fans and the media watching you.

For quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, his first series against the Denver Broncos on Monday will mark his return to the NFL field since his ACL tear when playing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3 last season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned after practice in the week up to Monday’s contest Garoppolo’s playing time would be determined by the state of the 49ers offensive line, how he looked on film during the joint practices and how long the team would keep the starters out on the field (h/t 49ers Webzone).

That means to not expect more than three series of offense. Anything more than that would be shocking.

For starters, the interior offensive line is going through a ton of troubles. Mike Person, the 49ers starting right guard, got injured in the practices; the overall roster implications of that found here by Niner Noise’s Peter Panacy. Weston Richburg, the presumed starting center, has not played this training camp while recovering from surgery on his knee.

That said, Jimmy G will hit the field, and how he looks will be important. Not if he goes 7-of-7 with a pair of touchdowns or if he throws two interceptions, but how he moves.

Here’s some pointers of what to look for.

Getting Hit/Dealing with Pressure

This is by far the biggest thing Garoppolo needs to feel.

A cliche media sound-bite is players saying it felt good to be hit. Obviously, they’re being hyperbolic, but there’s some truth to what they say. Football is a violent sport, and players need to get used to that.

Being a quarterback tends to change that slightly. While a running back has to be able to handle contact, your star QB shouldn’t have dirt in his mouth all that often. But getting hit has a very relevant corollary: facing pressure.

With an ACL injury, Garoppolo should rightfully hold some hesitation whenever players come near his knee. It’s only human nature. But he needs to be able to handle pressure all around him, including close to his knee.

During joint practices with Denver, he panicked a little and threw an interception:

If Garoppolo can stay firm in the pocket despite the pressure, it’ll be a pretty good indicator that he trusts his knee, and a better indication that he can reach his peak form.

Mobility

No one wants Garoppolo to pull a Ryan Fitzpatrick and take on a defensive back during a preseason game. He needs to be safe.

But Garoppolo’s claim to fame with the 49ers came largely from his ability to make plays out of nothing. His touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017 and this gorgeous pass to wide receiver Dante Pettis against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 last year come to mind (h/t Niners Wire):

Now it’ll be important to see how Garoppolo moves in and around the pocket. Will he step comfortably? Will he be okay moving and evading pressure?

While it won’t be perfect, Garoppolo being confident moving around the pocket again reassures his trust in his knee.

If I had to predict a stat line for Garoppolo, 3-of-7 for 42 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. All comeback tours begin with a single step, and the biggest win of Monday’s game will be Garoppolo’s return to the field.