Jimmy Garoppolo is eager to get the season started and put last season, and aspects of this offseason, behind him. The San Francisco 49ers drafted his eventual replacement, but the veteran quarterback remains focused on the task ahead — starting Week 1 against the Detroit Lions and holding onto that starting job.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was the first to reach out to Garoppolo and inform him of the team's offseason plan. Understandably, the quarterback had mixed emotions about the situation.
Garoppolo is making the media rounds today and joined 95.7 The Game this afternoon. He discussed his relationship with Shanahan and was asked if anything has changed due to the Niners bringing in some competition in rookie Trey Lance.
"It hasn't changed much," Garoppolo told Damon Bruce and Matt Kolsky. "I would say it's one of those things -- we have, what? Five quarterbacks in the room right now? So, there's coaching going on all over the place.
"But Kyle's pretty much the same guy every day. You know what you're going to get, and you appreciate him for that. But yeah, not too much has changed on that road."
An ankle injury sidelined Garoppolo for 10 games last season. The quarterback understands the way the NFL works. Your most recent sample is the only thing that matters in the league. That's why he's focused on 2021 and making the most of the opportunity.
If Garoppolo plays well this season, he knows everything else will work itself out.
"The NFL is kind of a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type of league," Garoppolo said. "With the injuries and things like that that I've had to deal with, you just try to flush those and get rid of it as quick as you can and just move on.
"For me, for example, I want to get to this next season as soon as possible, so you can get back on the field with the guys and just get back into some normalcy, I would say. I'm not used to being injured like this. It really sucks. It's not fun at all. There's some things you can control, some you can't, but whatever I can do to prevent the injuries, that's what I've been doing."
As far as Week 1 is concerned, Garoppolo doesn't expect to be unseated in his role as the 49ers' starter. The quarterback was asked if he plans to be under center for the game.
"Oh yeah. C'mon, you can count on that," he responded.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Garoppolo below.