On Sunday, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will start for the first time since being traded to the San Francisco 49ers on October 30. When San Francisco kicks off against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, it will be just his third career NFL start, which is two less than the quarterback he replaces – rookie C.J. Beathard.
While Garoppolo's experience is light, he excited fans on Sunday during his three snaps against the Seattle Seahawks. The quarterback, filling in for an injured Beathard, completed both of his passes for 18 yards and a touchdown in the final moments of the 24-13 defeat.
While the preview was brief, NFL analyst Mike Silver likes what he has seen in Garoppolo thus far. On Thursday, Silver joined "The Damon Bruce Show" on 95.7 The Game and was asked what kind of performance he expects to see out of the 49ers quarterback.
"I think it'll be good," Silver said. "I saw him come in and play in Arizona when [the New England Patriots] were coming off an NFC Championship Game appearance – the last year's season opener on the Sunday night, the Sunday night opener.
"I thought at the time he looked – this sounds crazy now – but for people who remember, he looked like a young Tom Brady. In the beginning, Tom Brady was not doing the things he does now and single-handedly manhandling people. But he was very efficient and accurate and smart and made big throws when he needed to but wasn't wowing you with numbers. And that's what I saw in that game."
While comparing Garoppolo to one of the greatest to ever play the game is high praise, Silver did temper his enthusiasm a bit by questioning why the Patriots were so willing to send the quarterback, who was considered to be the heir-apparent to Brady, to San Francisco.
"A lot of people in the NFL really like him," Silver said. "Part of me wonders how much the Patriots really loved him because if you really loved him, and your quarterback's 40, you find a way to string that out another year, in my opinion.
"But just because I'm musing about that doesn't mean he's not really, really good. I think it's going to be cool."
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