49ers vs. Chargers: Winners, losers from preseason Week 2 win
By Peter Panacy
49ers Loser: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
Trey Lance is officially challenging Jimmy Garoppolo to start right away this season.
Garoppolo, simply put, wasn’t good against the Chargers after getting the start. And while game lines rarely tell the whole story, Jimmy G’s 3-of-6 passing for 15 yards with an interception tossed, leading to a lowly 16.7 passer rating, does give a pretty good indication of his efforts.
Although Garoppolo outrushed Lance 10 yards to 8.
Meaningless rushing totals aside, Garoppolo’s pick was thrown high and slightly behind its intended target, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, the ball bouncing off his hands and into Los Angeles’ defense.
On top of that, Garoppolo’s negative tendencies to toss passes of his back foot, resulting in them sailing, continued. And the quarterback’s “happy feet” were on full display for his limited reps and snaps.
Kyle Shanahan could still name Jimmy G the starter in Week 1, and Garoppolo certainly has far more experience than Lance.
Still, it’s a closer competition than anyone could have imagined at this point.