49ers not placing Jimmy Garoppolo on injured reserve

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo isn't landing on injured reserve ahead of Week 14. 

"What I can tell you, as of right now, we're not going to move Jimmy to IR," 49ers general manager John Lynch told San Francisco radio station KNBR on Friday, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I think we're just going to carry him on our roster, and we're going to kind of see how this rehab process goes. There's a natural healing process that has to take place."

A player on IR must miss at least four games. 

Garoppolo went down with what was initially thought to be a season-ending broken foot in last Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins, but it was later reported the 31-year-old doesn't need surgery and could potentially return to action in approximately seven-to-eight weeks. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan seemed to pour cold water over such a timeline when he noted Wednesday he was "not real optimistic about it" and that there only was a "way outside chance" Garoppolo could play "late in the playoffs." 

With Trey Lance lost for the season due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2, rookie Brock Purdy has become San Francisco's new starter. Purdy connected on 25-of-37 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns and an interception against Miami and has since received high praise from a handful of teammates and also from Hall of Famer Joe Montana.

"How quickly it will heal, that's in the good Lord's hands, and so we'll sit back and see," Lynch added about Garoppolo's recovery. "I think we were encouraged, but I think Kyle also said it's also highly unlikely. It's a big ask." 

Garoppolo is on track to hit free agency following the season and had been heavily linked in rumors with a return to the 49ers for 2023 before this setback. Lynch insisted the organization is "not going to put (Garoppolo) in a bad position" regarding his future beyond the upcoming postseason tournament by rushing him back this winter before he's fully recovered. 

8-4 San Francisco hosts the 6-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday.