While Garoppolo's experience is light, he excited fans on Sunday during his three snaps against the Seattle Seahawks. The quarterback, filling in for an injured Beathard, completed both of his passes for 18 yards and a touchdown in the final moments of the 24-13 defeat.
While the preview was brief, NFL analyst Mike Silver likes what he has seen in Garoppolo thus far. On Thursday, Silver joined "The Damon Bruce Show" on 95.7 The Game and was asked what kind of performance he expects to see out of the 49ers quarterback.
"I think it'll be good," Silver said. "I saw him come in and play in Arizona when [the New England Patriots] were coming off an NFC Championship Game appearance – the last year's season opener on the Sunday night, the Sunday night opener.
"I thought at the time he looked – this sounds crazy now – but for people who remember, he looked like a young Tom Brady. In the beginning, Tom Brady was not doing the things he does now and single-handedly manhandling people. But he was very efficient and accurate and smart and made big throws when he needed to but wasn't wowing you with numbers. And that's what I saw in that game."
While comparing Garoppolo to one of the greatest to ever play the game is high praise, Silver did temper his enthusiasm a bit by questioning why the Patriots were so willing to send the quarterback, who was considered to be the heir-apparent to Brady, to San Francisco.
"A lot of people in the NFL really like him," Silver said. "Part of me wonders how much the Patriots really loved him because if you really loved him, and your quarterback's 40, you find a way to string that out another year, in my opinion.
"But just because I'm musing about that doesn't mean he's not really, really good. I think it's going to be cool."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers veteran assesses young D-linemen CJ West, Gracen Halton
San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton, a fourth-round draft pick, was already familiar with his new teammate, Osa Odighizuwa, before arriving in Santa Clara. As he prepares for the 2026 season, Halton hopes to learn from the veteran defensive lineman and... -
49ers' George Kittle gushes over Mike Evans' early impact
As Mike Evans approached free agency, the prospect of joining the San Francisco 49ers intrigued him. Before making his decision, the veteran wide receiver reached out to tight end George Kittle, who has spent his entire NFL career with the organization. Kittle gave Evans a... -
Mike Evans ready to be ultimate red-zone weapon for 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are counting on their biggest free-agent addition, veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, to continue being one of the NFL's most dangerous red-zone threats. If he can replicate the production he enjoyed during his lengthy tenure with the Tampa Bay... -
49ers' Mike Evans signing left former Bucs teammate stunned
The addition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans was one of the biggest moves of the offseason for the San Francisco 49ers. However, the decision to leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers caught at least one of Evans' longtime teammates completely by surprise. Buccaneers wide receiver...