49ers HC Kyle Shanahan: Jimmy Garoppolo could report to training camp 'unless we trade him'

The San Francisco 49ers excusing veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from attending their mandatory minicamp this week wasn't a surprising development, and not just because 2021 rookie Trey Lance is leading practices this spring. Garoppolo underwent surgery in March to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder, and the 30-year-old was never expected to resume tossing footballs at this point of his recovery. 

Last month, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested that Garoppolo could be traded this summer once he's cleared to throw and can pass a physical with a different team. However, Shanahan also admitted such a deal couldn't be guaranteed. 

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Shanahan explained the decision to allow Garoppolo to continue working away from the 49ers for now. 

"All his rehab is down in L.A., so for him to stop it to come up here for a three-day minicamp doesn’t make much sense for him or for us," Shanahan remarked, according to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "So, we want him to stay with his rehab. I mean, it wasn’t a real risky surgery or anything — it just takes time. So, I think the plan still — has always been — July.

"I know there’s no concerns with it and he’ll be throwing sooner than later." 

Per Simmons, Shanahan left Garoppolo's training-camp status up in the air. 

"I’ll think about that when that day comes," Shanahan told reporters. "But if Jimmy’s under contract with us and he’s healthy, right now, I would see him coming to practice unless we trade him." 

Both Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have repeatedly said keeping both Garoppolo and Lance on the roster through training camp and the preseason is a possibility, particularly if outside clubs such as the Carolina Panthers are truly concerned about Garoppolo’s throwing shoulder.