49ers’ Garoppolo sees return to Kansas City as ‘stepping stone’
Jimmy Garoppolo's comeback from knee reconstruction comes full circle Saturday when the 49ers visit Kansas City, site of his injury last September.
SANTA CLARA – Jimmy Garoppolo can retrace his infamous steps Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium, the scene of the crime, where his season got robbed and his career trajectory suddenly became dependent on his left knee’s reconstruction.
Coach Kyle Shanahan plans to play him the first half at Kansas City, allowing Garoppolo ample time to rediscover his offensive rhythm and attain any mental catharsis.
“It definitely will be a little weird getting back there,” Garoppolo said Thursday, “but I’m just trying to treat it like a normal game.”
It’s the dress-rehearsal exhibition, and it’s a chance to atone for last week’s rickety debut that was so roundly panned.
Where was the pocket confidence? Did the pass rush truly prevent him from stepping into throws? Was he worried Preseason No. 2 would be The End for his left knee?
“Any time you come back from injury, there are a bunch of mental hurdles you’ve got to get over, even when you’re healthy and feel good,” Shanahan said.
“I’m sure there is some stuff with it just being eerie going back to that same place,” Shanahan added, “but I haven’t talked to him specifically about it.”
If he has mental barriers, he isn’t acknowledging them, at least in their current existence.
“Initially after it happened, you try to replay it all in your head and what you’d do differently and everything like that,” Garoppolo said. “It’s come up a couple times, but I think I’m past that at this point.”
It’s been 11 months since he scrambled left, lost traction with his right foot, shifted his weight to his left leg and crumpled upon impact with a Chiefs in desperate pursuit of a fourth-quarter comeback.
Garoppolo’s 5-0, king-is-born debut in December 2017 put him atop the 49ers pedestal. Last season started with humble hiccups. Then came Week 3 at Arrowhead.
Garoppolo left there on a cart. Now he can amble back in, revisit the flashpoint of his catastrophic injury (about the 10-yard line on the 49ers side) and face his past.
His goal upon returning, at least publicly, is not to gain personal solace but rather team-driven efficiency. He sure did not achieve either in Monday’s cameo (1-of-6, 0 yards, one interception, one near pick-six, two passes deflected).
General manager John Lynch last week called Garoppolo’s recovery “flawless.” Monday night did not dispel that from a health standpoint, but rather an overall optic.
How has Garoppolo dealt with criticism for the first time in his 49ers career?
“Jimmy’s not a guy who is out all the time and really worrying about himself,” Shanahan said. “He’s a humble guy and has the right personality. But he’s also human, too. … The strong people survive in this league.”