San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke with reporters on Thursday and provided a (sort of) update on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's and running back Jerick McKinnon's recoveries from ACL injuries.
I say "sort of" because Lynch's comments were very similar to those made during a conversation with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network earlier this week. They are, however, still noteworthy.
"Both of their rehabs are going exceptionally well," Lynch said via NBC Sports Bay Area. "Neither has had any setbacks in terms of swelling or anything like that. Jerick is six weeks ahead in terms of time frame. They're pushing each other. Jimmy is trying to catch him, and Jet is trying to separate. But they're really relying on each other, so that's a positive."
Garoppolo suffered a torn ACL during a Week 3 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 23. McKinnon's injury took place about three weeks earlier during a September 1 practice session following the team's final exhibition game.
Lynch, who is with the rest of the 49ers staff in Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl, shared that he witnessed Garoppolo tossing a pass to McKinnon. Garoppolo was coming from the weight room while McKinnon was doing some rehab work on the practice field.
"(Garoppolo) was carrying a football and I looked out and he threw one ball to him," Lynch said. "It fired me up. That's what we want them to be doing. They are both working incredibly hard."
Both players are expected to be cleared for the start of training camp with Garoppolo possibly getting some work throwing the football during organized team activities, which begin in late-May.
Lynch spoke with Rapoport this week for the RapSheet and Friends podcast and discussed his franchise quarterback and featured running back.
"Jimmy is doing great," Lynch told Rapoport. "He's back in Santa Clara at our facility and just really vigorously attacking his rehab."
Lynch continued, "Jimmy is vigorously trying to catch Jet, who is trying to separate from Jimmy, and so there's competition going on as well. I think both those guys will tell you that's really helped them, (having) somebody to go through it with. It's fun. Now we're starting to see him take the next stages of the rehab. He's doing really well, and we're looking forward to having him this offseason, and back and healthy on our team."
Lynch also revealed that center Weston Richburg recently underwent surgery to take care of ongoing knee and quad injuries that plagued him throughout this past season. Safety D.J. Reed will undergo shoulder surgery on Friday to repair a labral tear.
The bad news is that the rehab time for both players is expected to be lengthy and will likely last up to the start of training camp in late-July.
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