Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is not participating in the team’s OTA practices this week as he continues to recover from a left foot injury suffered late last season, coach Josh McDaniel said Thursday. McDaniel declined to discuss the issue, but team and league sources said Garoppolo underwent surgery in March after he signed with the Raiders. Although McDaniels knows he can “go out” at least until training camp, the recovery time from that process is unknown.
“He’s going through the process like we knew he would,” McDaniel said Thursday. According to the information we have, nothing surprising has happened.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Garoppolo suffered a left foot injury on December 6, 2022, while originally playing for the 49ers. San Francisco feared Lisfranc suffered a fracture — one that would require surgery — but 49ers team doctors concluded it was a separate fracture that did not require surgery and had a recovery time of about two months.
- Based on that, Garoppolo — who has been pushing for a possible return if the 49ers reach the Super Bowl — had to be fully healthy when he agreed to terms with the Raiders on March 13. Garoppolo arrived at team headquarters in Henderson, Nev., to sign his contract on March 16, but left the facility before doing so.
- When Garoppolo signed and held an introductory news conference a day later, he did not explain the reason for the delay or provide specifics about the status of his foot injury. But according to a league source, the Raiders found out during Garoppolo’s workout that his foot actually needed surgery and that the procedure was done after the inning.
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The athleticsQuick analysis:
What is the stress level?
The feeling is the Raiders aren’t worried about Garoppolo being ready to start the regular season in September.
“We don’t play games for 100 days,” McDaniels said Thursday. “Everything that happened after Jimmy signed us, we already know. … He certainly had an understanding of it all. Our choice at this point is not to push it and rush anyone.
Still, considering Garoppolo’s history, the injury situation remains a concern.
Garoppolo missed 31 regular-season games and suffered three season-ending injuries as a rookie after being traded from the Patriots to the 49ers in 2017. The Raiders had that context and still felt comfortable enough to give him a three-year, $72.75 million contract with $33.75 million in total guarantees, but now he’s going to miss time again before he can play a tip for them. That further delays his chances of building chemistry with star receiver Davante Adams and the rest of the team’s offensive weapons.
Even if he’s ready to go in time for Week 1, it’s worth asking if he can last all season. The Raiders view Brian Hoyer as a viable backup and believe in the long-term upside of Aidan O’Connell, going as far as trading up to draft him in the fourth round last month, but it’s unlikely any player can match Garoppolo. Expected production this season. If Garoppolo’s injury issues continue, the Raiders offense will be in rough shape.
Back story
Garoppolo was asked at the entrance if the Raiders deal would fall apart, he said “no worries” and called the process “very collaborative.”
Garoppolo said his goal is to “bring back the silver and black.”
Asked if he expects to be a “long-term” starter for Las Vegas, the veteran said, “He’s coming in with the mindset that (he has) everything.” He added, “I don’t want to be given a ‘You’re a franchise guy’ or anything. I want to go in and get it.
Asked if he still has something to prove in his career, Garoppolo said, “Hell yeah. I’m trying to win the Super Bowl. I know every player says it when they go out for the first press conference, but that’s my goal.
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(Photo: Candice Ward / USA Today)