Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo addresses foot injury

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo always assumed he'd be ready for training camp despite concerns related to his surgically repaired foot. 

"Never really a worry," Garoppolo said about the issue Wednesday, per Eric Edholm of the NFL's website. "We had a good plan here. The strength staff, training staff -- really tip my hat to those guys. They did a great job just getting me back to where I needed to be. I'm not fully there yet, but (I'm) working in the right direction."

Garoppolo suffered his latest injury playing for the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 4, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently revealed the 31-year-old wouldn't have been able to play in Super Bowl LVII had San Francisco won the NFC Championship Game. 

The veteran signal-caller nevertheless put pen to paper on a three-year contract that reportedly could be worth up to $72.5M with $33.75M guaranteed at signing to join the Raiders this offseason, but it was later revealed Las Vegas could get out of that deal if Garoppolo couldn't pass a physical due to the foot injury. 

Garoppolo passed his physical before training camp and has no restrictions for practices. That's good, as he needs to use upcoming sessions to build chemistry with new teammates considering he missed out on some on-the-field work this spring. 

"We've gotten some good reps over the summer," Garoppolo explained. "Training camp, I think we'll only get better and better as we go. Running routes on air is one thing. But once you get a defense out there, you really see what guys can do and can't do, and they can see the same with me. That's when you really start to build your chemistry."

The Raiders open the preseason at home versus none other than the 49ers on Aug. 13. Considering Garoppolo's lengthy injury history, he probably should remain a spectator through exhibition contests and instead prepare to start at the Denver Broncos in Week 1 on Sept. 10.