In December, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported that the San Francisco 49ers were holding out hope that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo might return for the playoffs. The team has been rolling with rookie Brock Purdy as the starting quarterback, with Trey Lance and Garoppolo sidelined due to injuries.
Garoppolo is recovering from a broken foot, and reporters have noted that the quarterback doesn't look close to returning based on glimpses of Garoppolo around the facilities. However, the 49ers have not placed him on injured reserve, instead carrying him on the active roster and listing him as inactive each game.
Still, a return, should the 49ers make a very deep playoff run, remains a possibility. If it does happen, Garoppolo is unlikely to unseat Purdy, who finished the season strong.
"Jimmy Garoppolo is really attacking his rehab aggressively," Glazer said on the FOX pre-game show ahead of Saturday's 49ers-Seahawks playoff game. "He wants to be cleared in time to actually return later on this postseason. The 49ers, they're holding out hope that he can actually return [for the] NFC Championship Game, maybe the Super Bowl, if they make it that far.
"However, I want to put 49ers fans at ease right now. If he returns, it is to be a backup. To back up Brock Purdy, not to be the starter again. This is Brock Purdy's team moving forward."
Garoppolo is scheduled to become a free agent after the season and is expected to play elsewhere when the 2023 season kicks off.