ESPN insider Adam Schefter reports that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been cleared to start practicing. The team has also given Garoppolo's agents, Don Yee and Carter Chow, permission to seek a trade.
"49ers still are expected to exercise caution with him this summer," added Schefter.
49ers officially have given Jimmy Garoppolo's agents Don Yee and Carter Chow permission to seek a trade, sources said. Garoppolo has been cleared to start practicing, per team source; 49ers still are expected to exercise caution with him this summer.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 20, 2022
Update: Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reminded everyone that general manager John Lynch actually confirmed that the 49ers granted Garoppolo's agents permission to seek a trade back in March, so that portion of Schefter's report is not new news. Why is Schefter reporting this now? Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has some thoughts.
This report comes one day after Schefter's NFL Network counterpart, Ian Rapoport, reported that Garoppolo might not be fully cleared until mid-August. The 49ers report to Santa Clara for training camp next week. Most expect the team to excuse Garoppolo from practices despite head coach Kyle Shanahan previously stating that the quarterback would be expected to participate if healthy.
It has been over four months since Garoppolo opted to undergo shoulder surgery. It was a decision that surprised the 49ers and halted all trade discussions.
Second-year quarterback Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft, is expected to be San Francisco's Week 1 starter against the Chicago Bears. Garoppolo has been with the 49ers since a mid-season trade in 2017 when the New England Patriots shipped him to San Francisco in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The 49ers likely would have had an easier time trading a healthy Garoppolo in March. The surgery, plus Garoppolo's salary, complicated the situation. The quarterback has one year remaining on his contract with a $26.95 million 2022 salary cap figure. The trade options have dwindled during Garoppolo's recovery, leaving the 49ers with few choices on courses of action.
Last week, The Athletic reported that Garoppolo had been throwing for two to three weeks.