49ers HC Kyle Shanahan: Jimmy Garoppolo 'throwing the heck out of the ball' after shoulder surgery

Individuals associated with the San Francisco 49ers continue to say positive things about veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has officially been replaced atop the depth chart by 2021 rookie Trey Lance and is still recovering from March shoulder surgery. 

Lance spoke with reporters Thursday and insisted Garoppolo served as "a big bro" who "helped me out with everything" over the past year or so. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan met with media members on Friday and suggested the 30-year-old has made significant progress toward returning to full fitness. 

"Jimmy is working out hard and throwing the heck out of the ball," Shanahan explained, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. 

Garoppolo has repeatedly been linked with the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco's division rivals that have journeyman Geno Smith competing with 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock for their starting job. The Niners host the Seahawks in Week 2 on Sept. 18. 

"I told you guys everything about the situation. I’m not going to (say) every single thing in my head, but you can figure it out when I say we have to do what’s right for this organization," Shanahan continued during his comments. "And we’re going to do everything we can to make it as good as possible for Jimmy while what’s doing what’s right for this organization at the same time." 

Garoppolo is owed a non-guaranteed salary of $24.2 million and would count $26.95 million against the salary cap for 2022 per the terms of his current deal. Maiocco notes, though, that the 49ers will enjoy a cap savings of $25.55 million as long as Garoppolo is released before final cuts must be made on Aug. 30.

It's unclear if the 49ers will risk Garoppolo potentially suffering an injury by having him play in August preseason games so he can convince would-be buyers his shoulder is 100% ahead of the upcoming campaign.