Jimmy Garoppolo: How many games does 49ers QB start in 2021?
By Peter Panacy
Jimmy Garoppolo feeling the heat from Trey Lance
For the first time since joining the 49ers, Garoppolo has actual competition under center, which hadn’t been the case in 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2020.
An injury could abbreviate Garoppolo’s 2021 campaign, too, with Lance then getting the starting job and not letting go of it. Not unlike what the Niners experienced back in 2012 when then-starting quarterback Alex Smith suffered a concussion halfway through the year, which led to backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick seizing the No. 1 role and remaining in that spot.
Smith was subsequently traded the following offseason.
If injuries aren’t a factor, San Francisco likely looks to trade Garoppolo in 2022 anyway at a point when Lance is ready to start.
Unless another X-factor works its way into the equation.