49ers HC Kyle Shanahan on Jimmy Garoppolo: 'I think any scenario is possible'

The playing future of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains very much up in the air heading into the final full week of August. 

2021 rookie Trey Lance is now comfortably atop San Francisco's depth chart at the position, and Garoppolo is continuing his recovery from March shoulder surgery separate from teammates and is also owed a $24.2 million base salary for 2022 that only becomes guaranteed after the preseason. While most expect the 49ers will eventually release Garoppolo before September arrives, team CEO Jed York raised eyebrows when he said last week he's "happy to keep" Jimmy G on the roster into and beyond Week 1. 

Per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked Tuesday if Garoppolo could serve as Lance's backup for the regular-season opener at the Chicago Bears on Sept. 11. 

"I think any scenario is possible," Shanahan responded. 

"I communicate with Jimmy all the time," Shanahan later added. "He looks the same as he always has. He always throws it really good. So, he looks the exact same." 

During a recent appearance on San Francisco sports radio station KNBR, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area explained he believes Garoppolo will be "released on Aug. 30" because the 49ers otherwise "would have to cut one more player than they want to because, with him, it would be 52 players and Jimmy Garoppolo" on the active roster. 

Maiocco also said people within the 49ers think the Seattle Seahawks would quickly sign Garoppolo to eventually start him over Geno Smith and Drew Lock if the 30-year-old hits free agency before or on next Tuesday.