No, 49ers won't re-sign Jimmy Garoppolo if Raiders release him

The Raiders may get out from under Jimmy Garoppolo because of injury, but that doesn't automatically lead to a 49ers reunion.

It's been over two months since quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was officially no longer a part of the San Francisco 49ers.

Signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in the early waves of NFL free agency this offseason, the thinking would be a simple process: He'd join his new team, perhaps have some successes and failures, and both Jimmy G and the Niners would openly admit to turning the page.

Except some weird things happened with Garoppolo in Vegas. Not long after news of him joining the silver and black went public, his opening press conference went through an awkward and unexplained delay.

Now, we know why.

Jimmy Garoppolo had foot injury after Raiders signed him

Garoppolo suffered what turned into a season-ending foot injury back in Week 13 when San Francisco hosted the Miami Dolphins. That game led to the rise of then-rookie Brock Purdy, whose solid play probably made bidding farewell to Jimmy G during the offseason that much easier.

At any rate, the initial thinking was that Garoppolo's foot wouldn't require surgery. But it apparently did, and the Raiders found this out because the veteran quarterback couldn't pass a physical, the news of which was reported by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.

Florio also reported this was why Las Vegas delayed the press conference. And while head coach Josh McDaniels said the expected "we knew all of this in advance" kind of statements, it's the nature of Garoppolo's hastily revised contract that reveals a telling detail.

From Florio:

"As originally negotiated, Garoppolo had an $11.25 million signing bonus and a base salary of $11.25 million for 2023. The foot injury resulted in the Raiders removing the signing bonus, with the full $22.5 million becoming base salary in 2023.

He won’t get any of it until he passes a physical. In the interim, the Raiders can cut him “for any reason related” to Addendum G [a waiver because Garoppolo couldn't pass a physical].

The elimination of the signing bonus and the presence of Addendum G explains the delay in getting the deal done. And it underscores the possibility that Garoppolo might never play for the Raiders — and he might never get paid a penny by them."

Garoppolo could just as easily be a free agent within a month or two, and the Raiders wouldn't owe him a dime.

Naturally, some San Francisco fans are thinking what others wish they wouldn't think.

Jimmy Garoppolo won't return to 49ers if Raiders end up releasing him

OK, perhaps the 49ers just can't quit Garoppolo. They've tried before and failed, and here is the chance to make it the same case once more.

Except it won't come to fruition.

For starters, the dollars and sense, the Niners have just $10.7 million in available cap space, per Over the Cap, which is far less than what an even bargain-basement contract for Garoppolo would be. San Francisco has only about $12 million total tied up in its three quarterbacks -- Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold -- meaning the remaining cash can be spent to bolster other areas of the roster.

On top of that, there'd be the media circus that would explode if Garoppolo returned. Would that be good for young players like Purdy and Lance?

Absolutely not.

Finally, and this is the kicker, Garoppolo likely finished his 49ers tenure squarely in head coach Kyle Shanahan's doghouse.

Remember the Niners' end-of-season press conference after being eliminated in the NFC Championship game? Remember what Shanahan said when a reporter asked him if Garoppolo, a soon-to-be free agent, could return to the team?

“No, I don’t see any scenario of that,” Shanahan said, via PFT.

Read More: Jimmy Garoppolo foot surgery casts shadow on 1st year with Raiders

Shanahan was notably cold about Garoppolo at that presser, and there are plenty of theories why. Some involved the possibility Garoppolo might have been healthy enough to return to the field and play but opted not to in favor of his next contract.

Whatever the case, the sense was and likely still is that Shanahan has fully moved on from Jimmy G.

And, assuming Shanahan is also calling the roster shots, Jimmy G won't be coming back in any capacity whatsoever.

Read more from Niner Noise