Garoppolo has played well over this recent four-game stretch. San Francisco has won three of its last four, and the quarterback owns the league's best passer rating (113.2) during that span. If Garoppolo leads the 49ers into the playoffs, the team might not be eager to part ways with the veteran.
Shanahan was asked if the Garoppolo to Lance transition could be delayed, given the former's recent success. Might the 49ers hold onto Garoppolo for the 2022 season?
"I think there's a chance for anything," Shanahan responded. "But I think we've made it pretty clear that Trey's our guy of the future, whenever that will happen. But it's also nothing against Jimmy that we [drafted] him.
"We believe Trey will be our guy of the future, and like I said, I think it will be really hard, if Jimmy's on it, for [Lance] to beat him out right away. So, it's kind of going like that right now, and I'm not thinking much past that."
Despite the writing being on the wall, Garoppolo also isn't dismissing the possibility of returning in 2022. Although, the quarterback admits he has more pressing things on his mind right now.
"Honestly, with the possibilities, I try not to close any doors too early," Garoppolo said on Wednesday. "It's one of those situations, you've just got to let it play out, I think. We've got a lot going on with the season and everything right now. If you start thinking about those other things, you just get distracted, I think. But when we cross that bridge, we'll assess everything then."
During a Wednesday-morning KNBR interview, general manager John Lynch was also asked about the quarterback transition plan.
"I continue to say it. We're thrilled about Trey and his development," Lynch responded. "We had a plan that we were going to play the guy who gave us the best chance. Right now, we think that's Jimmy. Trey's getting better every week, and he's going to be tremendous for us. But Jimmy's playing great football, and we're winning football games and playing like we felt like we should have this entire year.
"We've got a huge challenge this week with Minnesota. They're very good defensively. So Jimmy, and our entire team, has a huge challenge."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers vs. Raiders injury report: Christian McCaffrey returns to practice, others remain sidelined
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 9 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Running back Christian McCaffrey returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's on-field session. He suffered a mild... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan sends clear message about Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had an opportunity to address the Brandon Aiyuk situation with reporters on Wednesday. His stance? He hasn't given it much thought. Shanahan remains focused on this weekend's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders as the 49ers look... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan shares encouraging update on Mike Evans injury
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans continues to miss practice while dealing with Achilles tendinitis. On Thursday morning, general manager John Lynch said Evans is unlikely to play this weekend against the Las Vegas Raiders as the 49ers look to avoid a second straight... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan delivers blunt responses when asked about Brandon Aiyuk
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is scheduled to meet with the San Francisco 49ers on Friday afternoon, potentially marking the first step toward resolving the issues between the two sides. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan has made it clear that he doesn't expect to be involved in...