If San Francisco 49ers veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo plans on having any future with the team beyond whenever he can resume throwing coming off the shoulder surgery he had in March, he may want to pick up his phone and make one call, in particular, ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Following last season, the 49ers hired former player and ESPN analyst Brian Griese to serve as their new quarterbacks coach. Griese spoke with reporters Wednesday during organized team activities and said he's working with 2021 rookie Trey Lance and other signal-callers attached to the organization. Griese has not, however, yet spoken with Garoppolo:
New #49ers Qb coach Brian Griese is working closely with Trey Lance, Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy. He has not had any communication with Jimmy Garoppolo, he said.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) May 25, 2022
That, on its own, suggests Griese has been notified Garoppolo won't be on the roster long after he can restart throwing in late June or early July.
On Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan remarked he "expects" Garoppolo will be traded at some point in the near future even if such a deal cannot be "guaranteed" at this time. All-Pro tight end George Kittle later said Lance has "taken ownership" of the QB1 role during OTAs with Garoppolo absent until further notice.
Perhaps a team such as the Carolina Panthers is ready to trade for Garoppolo as soon as he can pass a club physical, ideally before training camp sessions open.
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