While fans are eager to see quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo step onto the football field for the first time as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, the team doesn't feel rushed to push the situation. Instead, they are content with letting it develop naturally.
Garoppolo is likely the future in San Francisco, but right now, the 49ers are happy with C.J. Beathard's development. The rookie quarterback is coming off of the best game of his young career. Against the New York Giants on Sunday, Beathard completed 19 of his 25 pass attempts (76-percent completion percentage) for 288 yards, two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, an interception, and a passer rating of 123.4. Through his five games played this season, it was his first multi-touchdown performance.
Still, the 49ers are preparing Garoppolo as if he will be inserted into the starting lineup once he is comfortable with the playbook and verbiage used in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. The 49ers didn't trade a second-round pick for a quarterback in the final year of his contract so he can stand on the sideline as a backup for half a season.
"We got Jimmy because we think he has big-time ability at the quarterback position," 49ers general manager John Lynch told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area this week. "And we believe so much – to get where we need to get – you have to have a franchise quarterback. We think he's got that ability. Whether that happens, when that happens, we'll see."
The 49ers are currently enjoying their much-needed bye week. C.J. Beathard isn't even in town. He's traveling to Iowa to watch his alma mater play Purdue this weekend. Garoppolo has remained in Santa Clara to continue his study session with various members of the coaching staff and the few players who are sticking around. A decision at quarterback for the 49ers' November 26 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks isn't necessary until next week.
"We want to set Jimmy up for success and also the way C.J.'s playing is helping us sit back," Lynch said. "And now we have a bye week. They're going to work hard during this week to get him up to speed. But right now, we don't need him. C.J. just played a great game, and his teammates really believe in him."
That doesn't mean Beathard is a lock to start against Seattle. If ESPN's Adam Schefter, who joined KNBR on Thursday morning, were to make an educated guess – and he stresses the word "guess" – he believes the 49ers still want to start Garoppolo against the Seahawks.
"I think they were hoping to get that done for next week," Schefter said on the "Murph & Mac" show. "Look, they get some time off, they get to discuss it, mull it. Again, I'm guessing here. I'm guessing. But my guess would be, that when they come back, my guess – I emphasis 'guess' – is that Garoppolo would start against Seattle when they come back, and they get a look. So we'll see how that works out. We'll see how they decide to handle that.
"It's nothing official. There's nothing decided that I know but that would be my guess of the way it would go."
You can listen to the entire interview with Schefter below.
On Sunday morning, Schefter reported that the 49ers are targetting Week 12 against Seahawks to debut Garoppolo.
Following Sunday's game, Shanahan denied the report and said the team continues to take it one week at a time and there is no set timeline for Garoppolo to get behind center.