The San Francisco 49ers lost their franchise quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, to a torn ACL during a Week 3 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs this past season. The team lost its featured running back, Jerick McKinnon, to a torn ACL three weeks earlier and went on to win just four games in 2018.
Both players are expected to be healthy for the 2019 season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scouting Combine and told reporters on Wednesday that Garoppolo is ahead of schedule in his rehab and he is still expected to do some throwing and other light work during organized team activities (OTAs) in May.
It was general manager John Lynch's turn to step up to the podium in Indianapolis on Thursday, and he provided an injury update on McKinnon.
"Jerick's recovering great," Lynch told reporters. "He really is. I think one of the cool things, we didn't get a chance to see him on the field, but we've been able to see the work ethic that we always heard about with Jerick McKinnon front and center in his rehab. He's just getting after it.
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"I think it's been nice for him and I think he would tell you that, as would Jimmy, that it's been nice to have a partner to kind of push each other. Jimmy was a month behind, and so they've got their own competition going. That's good because that's an arduous process. I think they've been able to help motivate each other, and I think our staff is doing an incredible job working with both those guys.
"We're really encouraged with their prospects and where they're going to be. I'm not putting a timetable on any of them, but I can tell you that his progress is coming (along) very well."
Shanahan also discussed McKinnon's recovery during his time at the podium on Wednesday.
"In this day and age, ACL, everyone recovers pretty good, it seems," Shanahan said. "It's also tougher from a running back position, I would say, than from the quarterback. Jerick did it a month before him, but I think they'll be on the same page coming back.
"Jimmy, it's a little bit easier to throw in there in OTAs in 7-on-7, and it's hard to throw a running back in there because if someone runs into him, it's a little different. They have to make cuts that are a little bit different. But, Jerick's been working his tail off. It's the first time he's hurt his knee, and everything is on pace to be back. We're really excited to get him back."
