San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan planned to play quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo two series against the Denver Broncos, according to general manager John Lynch. Of course, those two series didn't go as hoped, so Garoppolo went in for a third. That, too, did not go as expected.
Finally, it was time to pull Garoppolo and the starters out of the preseason game rather than risk any injuries.
"Kyle makes those decisions," Lynch said Thursday during a KNBR interview. "I think he kept him out there maybe one series longer than he intended, but then it was time to get everyone out because, again, with the quarterback, so goes everybody else.
"We're not going to leave Jimmy in there if we get into — remember, Denver's starters were playing, so if we start getting our backups as a whole in there, the offensive line, you don't want to keep your quarterback out there; all those things.
"There's a plan that Kyle goes in there with, and maybe (he) did play him a series longer, but then it was time to move forward."
Garoppolo only played in 11 snaps on Monday night. He threw just six pass attempts and only connected on the final one, which went to running back Matt Breida for no gain. Broncos cornerback Isaac Yiadom intercepted the quarterback's second pass attempt of the night.
The 49ers have a short week leading to their next preseason game, a matchup on Saturday in Kansas City against the Chiefs. What if Garoppolo has another poor outing and looks like there is more rust to be shed before things start to count?
Lynch was asked if the 49ers might consider maybe, just maybe, playing Garoppolo in that final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Some in the media have suggested the idea should at least be considered.
"That's off the table," Lynch responded while laughing. "I think we've got a plan for the reps and all that. I guess you never say never, but I can't see that happening. We anticipate it going well, and catching a rhythm offensively, and looking forward to the chance to get back out there."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Thursday that Garoppolo needs as many reps as possible to ease him back to a place where he's comfortable again. It's a balancing act, though, between getting Garoppolo playing time and not risking injuries to the quarterback or other starters.
"I want Jimmy to play as much as possible in the preseason and into the regular season," Shanahan said, "but that's a fine line too. Joe Staley's not in the same situation, and neither is (Mike) McGlinchey, right now our whole O-line. You don't want to put your quarterback in there versus a starting defensive line when you don't have your starting O-line in there. So, trying to balance that out."
While we probably won't see Garoppolo against the Chargers, we should see a lot of him on Saturday. Right now, the plan is to play him for the entire first half.
"I would like him to get a whole half in," Shanahan said. "But sometimes halves can be 20 plays; sometimes they can be 45. It's more about the play count, but you'd like him to get a normal half in."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.