INDIANAPOLIS -- Kyle Shanahan has had a prime vantage point of Jimmy Garoppolo's ongoing rehab. The window in his office offers a clear view of the San Francisco 49ers practice field. That's where Garoppolo has been working out daily alongside the team's medical staff.
So while Shanahan is working through tape of upcoming free agents or draft prospects, he's able to take a quick peek at Garoppolo's progress. The team's franchise quarterback is coming along quicker than expected and is already working on his drop backs.
"Everyone says they're ahead of schedule, but he is," Shanahan reiterated on Wednesday at the 2019 NFL Combine. "He's feeling great. He hasn't had knee trouble before, and it was a clean ACL (tear)."
Garoppolo is approximately five months removed from the injury that took place in waning moments of a Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. His 2018 season ended with just 718 passing yards, five touchdowns and three picks.
The silver lining is that Garoppolo's injury took place so early in the season, which means that his recovery won't bleed into the 2019 season. The plan remains for Garoppolo to be a major part of the offseason program. That's the benefit of being a quarterback, a position that naturally limits the amount of explosive movement. It's also why the team will be forced to be much more cautious with Jerick McKinnon.
"We don't want guys falling into their legs, and that's easier to control at quarterback than running back," Shanahan said, adding another reason why McKinnon isn't likely to rejoin the team until training camp.
Garoppolo will be limited to 7-on-7 work throughout OTAs and minicamp as purely a precaution. The quarterback will resume full-team work in camp.
