Fans have been awaiting the debut of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo since the San Francisco 49ers traded for him on October 30. When he finally entered a game, which ended up being Sunday's 24-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, he received cheers from the Levi's Stadium crowd – or what was left of it.
At least two members of the 49ers didn't appreciate the reaction from the Niner Faithful.
Garoppolo entered the game in the closing moments of the game following a leg injury to rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard. Safety Eric Reid and linebacker Reuben Foster felt the ovation from fans was in poor taste.
Beathard has started the last five games for the 49ers.
"That pisses me off," Reid said following the game via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I'm disappointed in our fans. I understand the excitement about Jimmy. He's a great player. But that's not right."
"People don't understand what we go through as football players," Reid continued. "And what our bodies go through. And he's laying down on the ground and people are cheering. That's messed up."
Reuben Foster on crowd's reaction late in the game... pic.twitter.com/VfjVMsVipD
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) November 27, 2017
"When Jimmy goes out there, you cheer, and give him the pep talk, but let him know that you're all behind him," Foster said via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. "Let us know that you're behind our quarterback too, C.J., because that's the one who's been hurting, fighting for us, fighting for the Niners organization. You don't want to do nobody bad. It's all about respect and, our fans, I was disappointed in them when they were cheering. Our fans are better than that."
Tackle Joe Staley had a somewhat different view of the fans' reaction but felt it still came off as a bad look.
"I don't think it was malicious by our fans and they were cheering his injury," Staley said via Branch. "I think they just got excited, but, at the same time, you can't do that. That kind of is a bad look."
On Monday, Beathard will have an MRI on his leg to determine the extent of the injury.
"They said it was his lower leg," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. "I think he got hit with the helmet or the shoulder pad but not exactly sure yet. Being optimistic it's just a bruise, though."
Beathard was too focused on his injury to notice the reaction from the fans.
"I was just focused on my knee and talking to the doctors," Beathard said. "I wasn't really focused on the fans or the crowd."
