Mar 2, 2022

  • Nick WagonerESPN Staff Writer

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    • Covered Rams for ix years for stlouisrams.com
    • Previously covered University of Missouri football
    • Member of Pro Football Writers of America

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Equally San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo prepares to have surgery on his correct shoulder, the question of when he volition return to throwing is superseded merely by the dubiousness over where he will be doing it.

Speaking to media at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday, Niners general director John Lynch fielded questions about Garoppolo's status after the quarterback'south determination to accept surgery to repair the torn capsule in his throwing shoulder.

Garoppolo is expected to have that procedure done in the adjacent week or so with a recovery that should allow him to resume throwing almost the stop of June or early in July, co-ordinate to Lynch.

The question is where Garoppolo will be doing that throwing as the Niners prepare to trade him and plow the reins over to Trey Lance, whom they moved upwards to select No. three overall in the 2021 NFL draft.

While Lynch and passenger vehicle Kyle Shanahan had more often than not remained coy on the potential of dealing Garoppolo even afterward their loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, Lynch made it clear Wednesday that trade discussions are ongoing.

"A lot of people need or want quarterbacks right now and he'due south apparently a guy they'd await at," Lynch said. "So, yep, nosotros have listened but he's a part of the states and he's gonna work diligently to get back from this surgery. I haven't fifty-fifty talked to Jimmy notwithstanding just information technology sounds like that's the determination right now to go alee and accept that."

When Garoppolo last spoke to reporters February. 1, he seemed more certain he would need surgery on the torn ligament in his right thumb but likewise indicated the shoulder could as well require it. Equally information technology turned out, the thumb healed well enough to not need an operation but the right shoulder didn't afterward he injured it in an NFC wild-card win confronting the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 16.

According to Lynch, multiple doctors recommended rest and rehab for Garoppolo's shoulder to see if the pain and other symptoms would go abroad. When they didn't, Garoppolo decided this calendar week to motion ahead with the procedure.

The extent to which Garoppolo'due south surgery will impact and/or filibuster his trade market place remains to be seen. The 49ers take stayed hopeful that an understanding could be reached before the new league year opens March 16, at which time it would become official. Such a move would bring the Niners about $25 1000000 in bacon-cap relief.

Lynch said Wednesday that his sense is the latest Garoppolo injury won't play much of a part in a deal coming together. Only Garoppolo'southward injury history -- he'due south missed 25 starts because of diverse issues, including a torn ACL in 2018 -- will likely play a meaning function in the value the Niners can get dorsum for him.

For what it's worth, Garoppolo has a $vii.5 million injury guarantee, which means the Niners would have to cover that if a trade doesn't happen and they opt to release him. However, that guarantee contains an commencement upwards to the full amount, so if Garoppolo signs elsewhere for that much or more, the Niners would be off the hook.

Not that anybody is expecting it to come to that.

"There's always Programme A, Plan B, Plan C," Lynch said. "We plan for all of that accordingly. Jimmy is a big part of what nosotros've done. And like I said, he's all the same a part of united states of america and until that changes we feel blessed that he is. Correct now, when we're talking almost his shoulder, I'm worried about that for the Niners and for Jimmy. As far as annihilation else, nosotros have had some discussions with teams and we'll continue to."

That Lynch will be continuing those talks is expert news for the Niners after he too had an opportunity brand a big move in his career this offseason. Lynch, who left his job as a FOX colour annotator for the 49ers in 2017, acknowledged Wed that he had been approached most a return to the broadcast booth.

The New York Post reported that Lynch met with Amazon about an analyst chore that could have paid him around $15 meg per year to piece of work on its Thursday Dark Football broadcasts. Lynch declined, citing his desire to remain on the competitive side of the NFL.

"It's flattering when people who you respect so much show interest," Lynch said. "You listen. But ultimately I made the determination, my family unit made the decision, that this is where my heart is at correct at present and that's what I've e'er had guide me, so I'thou happy to be hither and that's that.

"That is a lot of money though. I tin't believe they're paying that much for people to talk football game. Information technology's unbelievable."