Jimmy Garoppolo: How many games does 49ers QB start in 2021?
By Peter Panacy
Jimmy Garoppolo and the injury factor
There’s no getting around the fact Garoppolo carries injury concerns. And after missing all but six games last year with ankle injuries, Shanahan and the front office ultimately decided to make the move for Lance.
2019 was proof enough Garoppolo can be effective if fully healthy, tossing nearly 4,000 yards and helping engineer San Francisco’s Super Bowl push that season. Yet that year was split between two devastating injury-shortened campaigns for Jimmy G.
Related Story: Jimmy Garoppolo injury history, outlook for 2021
According to Sports Injury Predictor, Garoppolo has a 32 percent chance of missing at least two quarters of action this season and is projected to miss 1.2 games in total.
Based solely on that assessment, Garoppolo would make 16 regular-season starts, assuming he’s handed back the starting role after being absent, but it’s a fair number to assume right away.