With Jimmy Garoppolo's season almost certainly done, the focus will soon shift to the quarterback's recovery. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport jumped on KNBR Monday morning and explained what San Francisco 49ers fans can likely expect as far as a timeline for a return.
During the explanation, Rapoport discussed the recovery of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who returned to the football field on Sunday 9 1/2 months after tearing his ACL.
"The Wentz situation is extreme because it was ACL and LCL," Rapoport said. "That's essentially worse-case scenario, and it happened Week 13 or 14."
The injury put Wentz in a cast for about four weeks longer than someone who just suffered a torn ACL would wear one.
"Obviously, no one wants to lose a quarterback for the season," Rapoport said as he started to discuss Garoppolo. "It's all bad. Everything is bad. However, he's going to be fine by the time — absent something crazy happening — he's going to be fine by the time next season begins. Probably even by the time next training camp begins.
"So it's bad, but long term, it's probably something that's going to end up okay."
Rapoport already shared on Good Morning Football that the team is likely to stick with C.J. Beathard as its starter and it would be a shock if it made a significant trade for a quarterback.
"Part of the problem is Beathard is probably a better option than a lot of people," Rapoport said. "First of all, he's got starting experience. He's not bad. I mean, if the team had to move forward with C.J. Beathard, I think it would have been okay. Not as good as Garoppolo, but I think they would have been okay. He knows the system, seems to be a smart, tough guy. So as far as backup plans, it's not a terrible one."
You can listen to the entire interview with Rapoport below.