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The 49ers looked at least to Tom Brady last low season. Speculation was that they would have this out of season again.
But General Manager John Lynch was just as definitive as he was about the team’s starting quarterback for 2021.
Lynch joined Clark Judge and Ira Kaufman on the podcast The Eye Test for Two, saying he has no doubts Jimmy Garoppolo will return as the team’s starter.
There is a caveat: “If Garoppolo remains injury-free”, something he has not succeeded in the past three seasons.
Lynch was asked, “If he’s injury-free, do you doubt Jimmy Garoppolo will be your quarterback when you field in September?”
Lynch didn’t hesitate: “No. Not at all. I really believe that. “
The 49ers are 24-9, including the postseason, in games Garoppolo has started since coming into a trade with the Patriots. They are 7-19 in the same period when he doesn’t.
However, Garoppolo has missed 23 games with injuries in the past three seasons. He only played six in 2020 due to high ankle sprains.
But Lynch sounds like the 49ers are looking to upgrade the backup quarterback position rather than find a starting quarterback to compete with or replace Garoppolo.
“Being available is a big part of this thing,” acknowledged Lynch. “So we – probably as a particular goal – we need to isolate ourselves better. We must have better options when he’s not here.
“I’ve seen people go through this in their careers that they struggled with early on. It happened to me early, and then I went eight years without missing a practice. So I believe things can happen, and I think they will for him. I really believe Jimmy is our man. “
CJ Beathard is an unrestricted free agent and Nick Mullens is a limited free agent.
Having a healthy Garoppolo is key, though, if the 49ers are truly committed to another year with him. The only season that Garoppolo played all 16 games, in 2019 the 49ers went 13-3 and made a Super Bowl appearance, although his fourth-quarter appearance against the Chiefs cost the team a title.
“When he’s healthy, he’s played at a high level,” said Lynch. ‘But we should probably add someone. We probably need to improve ourselves, so if he’s not around, we’re fine; we can win games.
“We are seriously looking forward to rebooting our team a little and giving it a try next year. And I believe we have what it takes to compete for a championship. “