Crutch-free Jimmy Garoppolo observes 49ers’ Wednesday practice

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been without his crutches since last week. The injury update came from general manager John Lynch last Thursday during a KNBR interview.

Garoppolo was seen in a Levi's Stadium suite during the San Francisco 49ers' Monday night game against the New York Giants on November 12. Former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan criticized the quarterback for not being on the sideline as his teammates fought for a victory — something they failed to achieve by the end of the night.

"Just so everyone knows, he wasn't cleared to be down there," Lynch responded. "He can't move well enough to protect himself, and I'd have a heart attack if he were. He was exactly where he was supposed to be."

Garoppolo suffered a torn ACL against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 23. When the media last spoke with him on October 26, he was still on two crutches. Later, he was seen roaming the building with just one crutch. Then last week, he was crutch-free.

Garoppolo may not have been on the sideline against the Giants, but the quarterback was cleared to observe the 49ers' practice session on Wednesday.

That's progress.

Garoppolo is expected to be healthy for the 2019 season, and head coach Kyle Shanahan hopes to have his franchise quarterback throwing the football and doing some non-contact activities by organized team activities.