Jimmy Garoppolo spoke to the media for the first time since suffering a torn ACL during the San Francisco 49ers' Week 3 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The quarterback no longer thinks about the moments that led to the injury. Instead, he is focused on his recovery.
The surgery itself went as well as expected, Garoppolo told reporters.
"There were a couple of little things," he said. "Nothing too serious. The ACL was the only one that got torn, so that was a good sign. But they fixed up a couple of little things, and I think it been going really good, though."
Garoppolo is probably about eight months away from throwing the football and getting in some non-contact work. For now, he is just looking forward to walking without crutches in a couple of weeks. Garoppolo called being forced to use crutches one of the worst parts of the whole ordeal.
"I think just the overall acceptance of it, initially, it was tough," Garoppolo said. "I've never had a serious injury like this, so it's different. We're very positive now. I've got Jet going through it with me. We're kind of helping one another, so it's good."
"Jet" is running back Jerick McKinnon, who suffered a torn ACL about three weeks before Garoppolo. He's a little ahead of the quarterback in the recovery process. While Garoppolo wouldn't wish a serious injury on anyone, he is glad he isn't alone in the rehab process.
"It's nice to have someone there with you the whole time," Garoppolo said.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said earlier this month that he is hopeful Garoppolo can start throwing the football by organized team activities in June. However, that will be determined by the quarterback's progress.
"As far as throwing and stuff, it's kind of a feel thing, they keep telling me," Garoppolo said. "It's just kind of how you progress through the process," Garoppolo said.
For now, Garoppolo will take advantage of the situation. He is in a lot of the team meetings and tries to help teammates like backup quarterback turned starter, C.J. Beathard.
"If they have any questions at all, I try to help as much as I can and just be a positive reinforcement in the locker room," Garoppolo said.
The 49ers have played three games since Garoppolo underwent his knee surgery. He watched the first two from a couch in Los Angeles but was able to watch this past Sunday's game from a box at Levi's Stadium.
"It's a completely different perspective," Garoppolo said. "You feel like a coach almost. So there's little things like that where I try to find a silver lining of how I can take advantage of this extra time. I'll never be given time like this again. You have to take advantage of what you're given, I guess."
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