Lisa Salters reported during ESPN's Monday-night broadcast of the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills that general manager John Lynch sounded optimistic about two of his rehabbing players.
"I talked to general manager John Lynch before the game, and he told me that Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle both had very good workouts today," Salters said on-air. "... John Lynch said that after seeing them today, they gave him even more reason to be optimistic about them being able to return before the end of the regular season.
"He said several players worked out on the practice field this afternoon. Garoppolo and Kittle, though, looked the best."
Kyle Shanahan downplayed Lynch's comments after the game. The head coach was asked if the general manager's comments meant Garoppolo and Kittle might be closer than expected to their returns.
"No, that's just him answering a question, probably," Shanahan responded. "I mean, those guys are working their tails off right now, but they're still part of the rehab, just trying to get back and be a part of this. But it's not anytime soon, right now."
Lynch joined KNBR on Friday morning and was asked about the confusion.
"We're on the same page," Lynch said on the Murph & Mac show. "I just think probably my comments were taken out of context. I did follow it up, and I think people focused more on the fact that we had positive news and good workouts. But I also said we are hopeful that they may be able to play at the end of the season.
"That remains the truth. They continue to make good progress, but we're focused on Nick (Mullens) getting ready to play, on C.J. (Beathard) backing up him, and the guys we have right now. But we are hopeful that, at some point this season, they can both — George and Jimmy — get out there, and they continue to make really good progress."
Lynch added that once both players are able to protect themselves on the football field, and are cleared by the medical staff, they will do what they are paid to do. And that isn't necessarily contingent on the 49ers' record at the time.
As for Garoppolo's ankle, there was a report based on some comments by running back Raheem Mostert that the quarterback may have suffered something a little more than a high-ankle sprain, leading to a longer recovery. However, that report seemed to be taken out of context a bit, and Lynch confirmed that.
"No, nothing (more)," Lynch said. "I think with anything — and high-ankles, unfortunately, I feel like I've become an expert on those — there's varying degrees of them. So, each one's different, and I think that's what Raheem was eluding to.
"And I think Jimmy playing that position, that's his drive foot, the right foot that he's pushing off, and the rotation. You would think running the ball might be tougher, but I think the rotation as a quarterback, that's given Jimmy some issues [with his first high-ankle sprain], and then he kind of re-tweaked it.
"I think it was just prudent from everyone, from our doctors, from the specialists that look at it, that we really allow this thing to heal. So, I think that's what Raheem is alluding to more than anything."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.
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