Jimmy Garoppolo Returns To Practice Today, Likely Returning This Weekend

Jimmy Garappolo returned for a limited practice today and will likely play this weekend, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Nick Mullens did a fair job filling in, but the need for Jimmy G became clear after the 25-20 loss to the Eagles.

Shanahan insists that he's "made a decision on who plays" if Garoppolo doesn't, but he won't say who. His job is to prepare for worst case scenarios, so this makes sense. Injuries to Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas made playing a young quarterback next to impossible, so Jimmy couldn't return soon enough. San Fransisco is doing everything they can to get a more experienced player under center.

Unfortunately for 49ers fans, the team sits in last place in the NFC West, and there's not much room for error. Jimmy G is coming off a high-ankle sprain, and his supporting cast is beaten up as well. Now's the time we figure out what type of investment Garoppolo is worth. We've seen injuries pile up around Russell Wilson, and they made him rise to a level we never saw before. Maybe Jimmy's return brings, not a superstar, but a better version of him to the surface?

San Francisco welcomes the Miami Dolphins to town this week, and Tua isn't expected to play, which helps. This team should be able to run the football and give Garoppolo the time he needs to get that ankle back 100%. The expectation is that he'll be back Sunday, so adjust those fantasy teams accordingly. Also apologies to anyone that actually has Jimmy G in their line up.

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Gary Sheffield Jr is the son of should-be MLB Hall of Famer, Gary Sheffield. He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr